Ostrich industry gears to boost GDP in 3 years

In three years’ time, the Ostrich industry should be contributing meaningfully to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a top Government official has promised.Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti gave the Executive of Botswana Ostrich Farmers Association (BOFA) this assurance on Tuesday this week. According to inside sources, the Minister promised that this would be achieved through facilitation and promotion of Ostrich farming initiatives.BOFA Executive had paid a courtesy call on the Minister to appraise him of developments in the association some of which include undertaking a benchmarking trip to South Africa next month (May) to learn about protocols to safeguard the industry's interest especially issues of bio-security.The Association, which held its Annual General Meeting last year at which new members were elected to the Executive, is currently reviewing its Constitution along with the Strategy and Action Plan.More significantly, the Executive has hit the ground running by networking and forging strategic partnerships with Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Department of Wildlife andNational Parks, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), National Development Bank (NDB) and sister associations, among others.Dr Dikoloti was briefed that the Association will participate in this year’s Agricultural Show in August by showcasing live birds; it also plans to host a fund raising dinner in November.Happily-intrigued by the Association’s progress, Dr Dikoloti assured the BOFA Executive that his Ministry will do everything possible to support the Ostrich industry.Dr Dikoloti revealed that a special fund would be set up to grow the industry; that the Ostrich industry would be considered in all Government Programmes under review; and will create and develop protocols to build investors’ confidence in Ostrich farming.Further, the Minister urged farmers to get ready to buy as the Dibete-based Botswana Ostrich Multiplication Unit (BOMU) will start hatching Ostrich eggs.Government will also support Ostrich feed-lotting as it can bring fast cash on investment.BOFA Chairperson, Thabo Mokwena confirmed to Botswana Guardian that indeed they had a “productive” meeting with the Minister on Tuesday.Scientific Officer in the Ministry Bueno Shanto Mokhutshwane introduced the Association and indicated that they are working hand in hand with it.With a functional Abattoir in Gaborone, the Ostrich industry’s value chain counts among prospects for boosting the local economy.

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Ostrich industry gears to boost GDP in 3 years