The Director in the Department of Animal production in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Phillimon Ramotswi will officiate during the Botswana Ostrich Farmers Association, Gala dinner rescheduled for 9th September, 2016.
The event will be held at Phakale Golf estate as previously arranged. Dr Ramotswi’s engagement follows several failures by the BOFA committee to get hold of the Minister of Agriculture, Patrick Ralotsia. Dr Motswi has been very influential in the resuscitation of the ostrich industry in the country.
The Association’s Treasurer, Edward Thabo Mokwena, revealed in an interview that the objectives of coming up with the event are, “To promote ostrich meat in the country, as you are aware that though we have lots of ostriches in the country, quite few Batswana know how its meat tastes.”
Mokwena explained that the promotion is especially motivated by the fact that the association has somehow attracted young people, who make 60 per cent of the country’s population. The event is envisaged to further provide a platform for interaction by aspiring farmers. This is especially important because ostrich farming’s value chain, if effectively utilized can be turned into various industries. Besides the meat there is the skin, then there are feathers, egg shells, as well as the long leg bones used for decorations. Supplying stock feed and transportation are other extras.
Mokwena explained that the event is one of those with which the association intends reaching out to the society at large. In the future he said, they aim to reach out through family fun days which is envisaged to rope in young people since the gala dinner is for adults.
The association has plans to undertake a bench marking trip to South Africa later during the year, hence the importance of fund raising.
