PRINT Livestock Project)

SADC SECRETARIAT EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND

Promotion of Regional Integration in the SADC Livestock Sector (PRINT Livestock Project)

9 ACP SAD 002

Report of a Mission to Botswana LIMS situation analysis

PRINT Report N°: BB-GW-PB-LIMS-BW-02-2007

Dr. Pascal BONNET, Chief Technical Adviser, PRINT Dr. Berhanu Bedane, Information Management TA, PRINT Dr. Gift W. Wanda, Epidemiologist, PRINT

SADC Secretariat FANR Directorate, Millenium Office Park Kgale View P/Bag 0095 Gaborone Botswana Dates: 23rd to 25th January & 13th February 2007

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Acknowledgments

The reporting officers would like to thank the staff members of the Department of animal Health and Production who participated in the discussions and provided valuable information. Special thanks go to Dr. Musa Fanikiso, the Director of the Department, his deputy Dr. Letswenyo and Dr. M. Mokopasetso for organising this mission and the ARIS demonstration session.

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments...... 3 1. OBJECTIVE ...... 5 2. PERSONS MEET ...... 5 3. BACKGROUND ...... 5 4. STRUCTURES...... 7 5. TYPES OF DATA COLLECTED BY DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS 16 5.1 Veterinary Field Services Division (Disease Control)...... 16 5.2 Animal Production Division ...... 16 6. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AT DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS ...... 22 6.1 Epidemiology...... 23 6.2 Livestock Identification and Traceability System ...... 25 6.3 Other databases ...... 28 6.4 Assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of livestock information management ...... 33 7. OTHER ACTIVITIES ...... 34 8. DEMONSTRATION OF ARIS...... 35 9. CONCLUSIONS...... 36 10. ANNEX...... 37 ANNEX I - Contact address ...... 37 ANNEX II - Disease reporting form...... 38 ANNEX III – GIS and geographical aspects...... 40 ANNEX IV – Terms of reference for the mission...... 46 ANNEX V – CD (electronic annexes):...... 47 ANNEX VI – Illustration on Master data of LIMS, and implication for structures of table...... 48 ANNEX VII – Reports for Tabular data of LIMS, and implication for the structures of table...... 51

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BACK TO OFFICE MISSION - BOTSWANA, 23 – 25 JANUARY and 13 February 2007

1. OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of the Mission is to discuss the information needs of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) of the Ministry of Agriculture of Botswana. The specific objective is to assess information requirement in areas of Animal Health, Animal Production and Livestock Trade and Marketing in time and space scale. Discussions with staff members of the Department working in different sections is anticipated to explore the purpose of collecting data and ways of presenting information as well as identifying currents gaps and ways these can be addressed. During the mission, it is proposed to collect GIS data.

2. PERSONS MEET Details are provided in annexe 1

1) Dr. Musa Fanikiso – Director of the DAHP 2) Dr. M. Letswenyo – Deputy Director (CVO Field services – disease control) 3) Mr. S.K.M Mosielele – Deputy Director (CSO Animal Production) 4) Dr. Neo Mapitse – Head Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Sections (VEES) 5) Dr. Mokopastseso – Epidemiologist (VEES) 6) Dr. John C. Moreki– Head Poultry section 7) Mrs. Gertrude Nurse Kelebemang – Principal Scientific Officer, Poultry section 8) Mr. Robbie Kenneth – Head livestock marketing section 9) Mr. Anthony Dingalo – IT specialist VEES 10) Mr. Celestius - IT specialist VEES 11) Dr. Farai Chikwada – Veterinarian 12) Mr. Lesitamang Lister Paya – Principal Scientific Officer (Hide and skin) 13) Mr. Kedikiwe O. Kedikilwe – Principal Scientific Officer (Livestock Identification and Traceback System – LITS) 14) Mr. Lebani Nthoyiwa - Principal Scientific Officer, Dairy section 15) Mr. Sonnyboy Bengane Edson – Field officer LITS 16) Mr. Erence Otokwe - LITS database administrator 17) Mr. Setshwane Kgetse – Head of small stock section

3. BACKGROUND

This mission is part of the information needs assessment and situation analysis in SADC Member States prior to the design and development of LIMS tools. It is in line with the planned activities of PE 3.

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Map: Situation of national LIMS assessment to date (yellow box = completed and in green incomplete situation analysis)

Diagram: The diversity of computerization levels in MS has implications for LIMS design and to assess the alternative specifications offered towards final LIMS

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4. STRUCTURES

For better understanding of the functions of different divisions and sections of the DAHP and the different levels in charge of data collection and transmission from field, it is necessary to understand the structure and how the different parts function.

The DAHP is one of the four Departments falling under the Ministry of Agriculture. It is one of the biggest in terms of staffing and operations. The DAHP comprises five divisions namely; • Veterinary field services • Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis control • Meat Hygiene and quality control • National Veterinary Laboratory and • Animal Production

The current organogram (figure 1) derived from the TNA in February 2006, depicts that the Department is headed by a Director with two deputies, one responsible for disease control and the other for development. The different divisions of the DAHP fall either under Deputy Director (Disease Control) or Deputy Director (Development) or directly under the Director. Field Services and Tsetse Control divisions fall under Deputy Director (Disease Control); National Veterinary Laboratories, Meat Inspection Training Centre and Abattoirs report directly to the Director; Animal Production division falls under Deputy Director (Development), a post which is currently vacant[1]. It is worth noting at this stage that the structure is undergoing a review process whereby Animal Production[2] will be de-linked from animal health resulting in the formation of two separate departments, probably by April 2007.

There are 10 “administrative” regions in Botswana with various toponames used.

1st administrative level names 1st administrative level codes Central BWA001 Chobe BWA002 Ghanzi BWA003 Kgalagadi BWA004 Kgatleng BWA005 Kweneng BWA006 Ngamiland BWA007 North-East BWA008 South-East BWA009 Southern BWA010 10 units

[1] The current operational structure does not have a deputy director responsible for development. [2] The new departments to be formed will include Animal Production, Agribusiness and Extension Services

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These regions are also called districts some times and serve to map socio-economic data in the Botswana atlas

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There are districts under the regions, like shown in the next table and map (FEWS).

NAME1_ PCODE NAME2_Districts Maun Region BWA004 Chobe Maun Region BWA004 Ngamiland West Maun Region BWA004 Ngamiland East Francistown Region BWA002 Tutume Central Region BWA001 Letlhakane Francistown Region BWA002 Tati Western Region BWA006 Ghanzi Francistown Region BWA002 Tonota Central Region BWA001 Serowe Central Region BWA001 Selebi-Phikwe Central Region BWA001 Bobonong Central Region BWA001 Mahalapye West

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Central Region BWA001 Palapye Central Region BWA001 Mahalapye East Gaborone Region BWA003 Kweneng North Western Region BWA006 Hukuntsi Gaborone Region BWA003 Kweneng West Gaborone Region BWA003 Kgatleng Southern Region BWA005 Ngwaketse West Western Region BWA006 Tsabong Gaborone Region BWA003 Kweneng South Gaborone Region BWA003 Bamalete/Tlokweng Southern Region BWA005 Ngwaketse North Southern Region BWA005 Ngwaketse Centra Southern Region BWA005 Ngwaketse South Southern Region BWA005 Barolong

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But these partitions are not very much used for veterinary and LS purpose. Instaed we find specific partitions

There are 15 “veterinary districts” in Botswana as shown in the next table and map. These are used when dealing with LS issues. There is also a partition dealing with OIE status i.e. a partition appropriate vis à vis export market of meat (cf. chapter 6.1).

DISTRICT Kasane Francistown Letlhakane Ghantsi Serowe Selebi-Phikwe Mahalapye Palapye Molepolole Tsabong Mochudi Jwaneng Gaborone Kanye Lobatse

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Additionally we find the Vet extension areas.

The Field Services Division comprises six Regional Veterinary offices headed by Principal Veterinary Officers (PVOs). Each Regional Veterinary Office comprises three to four District Veterinary Offices. The PVOs supervise the district veterinary offices (headed by veterinarians) which are demarcated into Veterinary Extension Areas. Each extension area comprises several crush pens numbering up to 15, the crush pen being the smallest epidemiological unit. Animal health data collection and flow starts at crush pen level and is collated at extension and district level before being submitted to the head office. The crush pens serve 10 to 15 holdings or house holds, covering an area of roughly 4 Kilometre radius. In other words, the approximate distance between two crush pens is about eight Kilometre. This distance is larger in communal farming areas.

The Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Section (VEES) and Livestock Identification sections fall under field services. The VEES has epidemiology, economics, wildlife and Information Technology sub sections. The Tsetse control operations are based in Maun.

The Animal production division comprises the following eight sections. • Range management and Fencing coordination • Animal breeding • Small stock (goats and sheep),

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• Poultry • Dairy • Livestock marketing • Hides and skins • Pig

Each of the above listed sections is headed by a Principal Scientific Officer. A parallel structure exists for animal production as it is for disease control field activities from the region and district level down to the extension area.

For the whole department, technical staff falls into three categories, namely professional (veterinarians) and scientific officers (animal production specialists) and technicians.

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figure 1 Current ORGANIGRAM in DAHP BOTSWANA MoA

Director AH & P Emergency Disease Control Committee

Deputy for Tsetse Deputy Chief AP Chief National Meat Development Control Dep Disease control Abattoirs Vet Labs Inspection TC

Heads of Section: Livestock Projects Admin & Poultry Advisory Training Regional Vet Epi & Centres Vets (6) Economics brands; Range Mngt LITS Piggery Dairy

Line of reporting for Marketing suspected disease outbreak District Vets and Animal Scientists (19 stations)

Attending TNA 2006 Staffing: 3000 industrial workers 919 technical and professional staff 40+ Veterinarians Mission report on the visit to Botswana LIMSExtension situation analysisAgents January -February 2007 15 Vets at BAC Page 14 4 Vets at Parastatals 12 Private Vets

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Technicians are further divided into diploma (TO) and certificate (TA) holders. Career progression is therefore along the three categories. The mission team observed throughout discussions with the people met that level of staffing in the entire department appears to be adequate and according to the existing staff establishment.

For disease control purposes, some regions are demarcated into zones each comprising a subdivision of a district or 1-2 districts.

5. TYPES OF DATA COLLECTED BY DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS

This section of the report deals with the different type of data collected by the different sections making up Divisions of the DAHP. Details on the scope and frequency of data collection as well as how these are stored and analysed will be presented in the following section.

5.1 Veterinary Field Services Division (Disease Control)

There are two major types of data collected from field through the structures of the veterinary field services. These are the disease occurrence reports and the livestock identification and movement data. The event based disease reporting originate from outstations at crush pen level and filed by extension officers. This is a joint task of the outstations (investigation and sample collection), the National Veterinary Laboratories (diagnosis of samples from field) and the VEES (entry, storage and analysis of data). The livestock identification and movement data also originate at field level where data is captured directly into field computer and transferred to the database on the central Server. The entire process is managed by a system called Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS), which will be explained in details further below in this report.

5.2 Animal Production Division

Data collected under this division is presented per section as follows.

Range Management section and fencing

This section is in charge of demarcating grazing lands, fence them and manage allocations.

Field personnel collect data on grazing, water and rainfall conditions and submit as narrative monthly report to the Department.

The section deals with results from studies rather than from systematic reports and stats. They are stats users rather and generate information on appropriateness of new tenure arrangements and fencing scenario. The feasibility studies of re arranging the land tenure is of particular importance in such case and it imposes the use of stats and GIS models. We collected one dossier as a sample.

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In such a context the monitoring of new herds and farmers was discussed, as Botswana had expressed its interest in a monitoring system for new development schemes. LASER© from CIRAD is a tool that can be demonstrated to officers during a visit of CIRAD staff to Botswana, in order to assess whether such an application could match the requirements with or without a customization approach.

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Animal Breeding section

The main target is cross breeding to improve the body weight of beef production. There are 15 Artificial Insemination centres in the communal areas. On farm record keeping booklet was produced by the Planning Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and introduced for the registration of reproduction and production parameters. However, the booklet was used by only few farmers and those completing it did it wrongly most of the time. Field personnel are now assisting those farmers unable to complete it or complete it correctly. If these records are consistently and correctly registered and kept, data on reproduction and production parameters can be easily gathered.

Small stock section Despite the fact that goat meat is a delicacy among many Batswana, the small stock seems to be neglected as compared to cattle and beef production. This is reflected in all spheres including research, census, data collection, etc. The number of small stock in the country is not well known as the annual census at crush pens during the annual vaccination campaign does not include these. The sheep and goat counts are made by interviewing cattle owners and not a head count as for cattle. This automatically excludes small stock owners who do not posses cattle. Fluctuation of small stock number from year to year has no justification.

Unlike poultry or piggery, there is no specific section dedicated to small stock at least in the few monthly reports observed during this mission. However, data on diseases, mortality, movement, number slaughtered, etc. involving small stock is available in these reports originating from districts.

Poultry section Botswana is self sufficient regarding poultry meat. It produces 64,000 tones per year. The production of eggs per year has reached 8.7 million dozens. The poultry industry and farmers as well as the Botswana poultry association are well organised. At the Department level, the poultry section is doing well and it is the only section where the reporting officers managed to see data at least on a spread sheet.

Regarding data collection, there is a specific chapter of the monthly report from districts dedicated to Poultry section. The report contains data on poultry meat and egg produced, chicken mortality, activities of poultry projects including Guinea fowl project and employment opportunities derived from these, meeting and training conducted during the month, etc.

Dairy section There is a dedicated section on dairy in the monthly report filed by districts. This narrative monthly report includes data on breeds, the number of dry and wet cows, the amount of milk produced during the month, etc. Furthermore, samples collected from different dairy farms, visited made, training conducted and monitoring of dairy projects is included.

Monthly reports on dairy are available, which are sent to HQ from district or region and by fax. Some material for visiting farms and recording data are developed.

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Livestock marketing section The livestock marketing section collects data on cattle and small stock sales and retail price of animal products through a network of staff deployed in districts. More specifically, sales of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), Municipal abattoirs and local butcheries are recorded. Retail price of different categories of beef, broiler chicken, sheep and goat meat and pork is collected and reported. Likewise, retail prices of milk and milk products as well as fish and farm gate prices of some of the animal products are gathered. As many other sections of the Animal Production Division, the Livestock Marketing section does not have presence in all the districts in the country. Hence, information on marketing does not cover the entire country.

BMC also records marketing data and is an appropriate source of information on process and on the market profile.

DAHP report’s marketing section of a district monthly report (here Mochudi) is displayed as an example hereafter.

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Hide and skin section The section assists small scale businesses in commercialisation of hides and skin and setting up small abattoirs. It helps also artisans in processing their product. As for data, the section collects the number of hides and skins produced at BMC, Municipal Abattoirs and Local Butcheries and their prices through a network of staff members located in 15 out of 20 veterinary districts in the country. Abattoir hide quality index is also collected based on the grading given to each of these determined by the number of cuts on the hide. Some of the challenges the section face include the little value attributed to hide and skin by politicians and farmers alike, the continues use of branding after the introduction of individual animal identification, lack of formal market and low price for skins and incompleteness of data collected from field. The number of hide and skin produced from informal slaughters during ceremonies and festivities is not gathered. At least getting an estimate of this is important. The same applies for the number of animals slaughtered.

Pig section Data collected from field by the pig section includes assessment of the physical stock on pig farms, monitoring of projects and delivering extension messages through farm visits. Quantitative information on the number of pigs in each farm with different categories (Boers, Sows, Piglets, etc.), the number of pig slaughtered at abattoirs and the average body weight of these is also collected.

The section also has developed promotion booklet on piggery.

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6. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AT DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS

This section of the mission report highlights how livestock data is collected, collated and transferred from field to central authorities and subsequent processes involved. As mentioned in the previous chapters, the lowest structure for livestock service delivery is the crush pen. On average, a crush pen is an area of four-kilometre radius comprising 10 to 15 house-holds or farms (holdings). The area covered by crush pen is wider in communal areas. While epidemiological and livestock movement data are captured at this level most of the animal production data are gathered at district level. Once data reaches the DAHP it is dispatched to the concerned section for data entry or archiving. Results of analysis are used for decision making by heads of divisions and the department and information disseminated in a bound report. Each division of the department also produces a quarterly report.

For better understanding of the processes involved, livestock information management in the country can be described under the following three major headers; Epidemiology, Livestock Movement and Animal Production and marketing.

A full monthly report sample that is issued at district level is available at PRINT, with example of records about major stats and achievement of development and extension programs in Botswana.

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6.1 Epidemiology

The VEES collects data mainly on disease occurrence. Extension agents while on tour of their operational area or when approached by stockowners investigate cases, collect sample and file disease reports. This event based report together with the sample is sent to the National Veterinary Laboratory (NVL) through the district and regional veterinary offices. The districts and province veterinary offices keep their own copies. Data on the disease being reported and the result of laboratory diagnosis is entered to the database designed for this purpose. A format describing the type of epidemiological data collected from field is attached to this report (Annex II). In addition to this event based reporting, a monthly summary report in a narrative and tabular form covering vaccination figures and other activities is filed by each district. This report is meant also for verification and consolidation of disease reports received during the course of the month but not used frequently.

Epidemiological data collected from field, mainly the event based disease reporting, is entered to a database called VEES/DAHP Epidemiology database. This is a Microsoft Access based database designed by the Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Research Unit of Reading University under a project sponsored by the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom. It was developed in 1999 using MS Access (Office) 97 and since then it stored about 30,000 records and has a volume of about 33 MB. The Epidemiology database makes use of another database on the structure and location of crush pens in the country for disease data entry. The later contains names and locations of all crush pens in the country and

Mission report on the visit to Botswana LIMS situation analysis January -February 2007 Page 23 in most cases the number of livestock per species around each of this crush pens. Three staff members are assigned to enter data to the VEES/DAHP Epidemiology database located at the NVL and on regular basis backup is made and transferred to the headquarters for analysis and safe keeping.

The outputs from the system include national report, OIE report, GIS report and disease query facility by period and district. As part of outbreak management, the GIS component of the database provides good management tools such as mapping certain radius from outbreak area or buffer along a given stretch.

OIE zoning and coding scheme

Many critical events –outbreaks of FMD- were located at the border with neighbouring countries and their location is critical to sustain the right of exporting meat to EU.

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Fences and veterinary control zones are hence forming a network of lines and polygons well represented in a GIS.

6.2 Livestock Identification and Traceability System

The Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) is probably the most important database operated by the DAHP. The System was introduced to identify individual animal (cattle) throughout the country and being able to trace it if required as part of the support for beef export to the European Union (EU). The country exports about 80% of its beef production to EU and this constitutes important share of its foreign exchange earnings.

Identification of herds in Botswana through brand registration started in 1907 and the system operates to date. The Brand Registration Office under the DAHP is the one in charge of registering new brands, renew or transfer or cancel existing ones for a fixed fee of 20 Pula. Registration of brands is mandatory as at a later stage it is a requirement for the insertion of bolus for individual animal identification. The brand registration is valid for a period of 10 years after which renewal is required. A farmer can apply for more than one brand. The herd identification brands are a group of geometrical figures with letters and numbers randomly generated from an application developed for this purpose. The following diagram shows examples of the brands currently in use.

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Figure 2, types of brands used for the identification of cattle herds in Botswana

D w 5T 3 6V R 1 K2 B Square Up Triangle Down Triangle J L 8 S

Vertical Rectangle Horizontal Rectangle

Brand registration is made nationally at the DAHP headquarters and the process is simple and quick. Once a brand is allocated to an applicant, it is up to him/her to get the branding iron made by local producers. There is no standard set for the type and size of these irons but what is produced and used is fairly consistent. Farmers brand their cattle either on the thigh or on forearm of the left or the right side of the body.

Data on the owner and the brand allocated to him/her is stored in LITS database. Coding the details of districts, extension areas and crush pens across the country has already started by 1998 when the EU introduced regulation number 820/97 on traceability.

With the introduction of the EU regulation 1760/2000 identification of individual animals become compulsory and Botswana had to comply with this in order to maintain the beef export market. That also paved way for the establishment of LITS. The System is composed of a field unit, where individual animal identification is made at crush pen level through the introduction of reticular bolus∗ and registration on portable field computers (known as the Yellow Boxes) and a Central database where all the data on individual animal identification and related issues are stored. The design and development of LITS started in May 2000 by appointing a Project Manager leading later to the launch of an international tender. A local company EST won the tender and put 12 experts to the design and development. The first prototype was ready for testing after 6 to 8 months. The project cost 160 million Pula and entirely covered by the Botswana government. This cost does not include transport expenses and wages and benefits of the DAHP staff members as well as consultants hired to monitor the project.

∗ The reticular bolus contains electronic cheap readable by readers designed for this purpose. The devise can last up to 30 years and it is recyclable two to three times. The approximate cost of each bolus is $5.00

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The automatic reader for Chips installed at a kraal is linked by wireless to the yellow box (here not visible a computerized solution for an Identification and traceability system)

Field component of the LITS – Field Data Acquisition System

At field level, each extension agent in the country (about 260) has a battery operated robust field PC (Yellow Box) for capturing data and issuing movement permits. Access to these machines is through User ID and Password assigning to each of the extension agents. The individual animal identification system starts by testing and inserting the bolus in to the reticulum of the animal and followed by the registration of details of the animal which includes the owner, brand, location, colour, sex, etc. It is to be noted that the individual animal identification system is applied only to cattle and so far almost all cattle in the country are identified. Based on prior data installed on the field computers and those entered to the application later, extension agents are able to issue movement permits, including printing details which can be affixed on the permit per se. This permit allows moving cattle from one crush pen in the country to another. Movement of animals outside the country are dealt with differently. Those imported in to the country are identified at the port of entry by introducing reticular bolus and registering their details. The application installed on the field computer also allows data capture for census, surveillance, vaccination figures, among others. However, during this mission only animal identification and movement permit are the components in use.

LITS Central database

The LITS central database is located on a Server at the DAHP headquarters and receives data from different sources. These sources are the Yellow Boxes from field, the Omang∗ Database updated every fortnight, the BMC SASTEK Database, data from the BMC Acceptance Yard Readers, data from recovery and recycling systems, the brand registration and the LITS

∗ National registration of citizens

Mission report on the visit to Botswana LIMS situation analysis January -February 2007 Page 27 database administrator for correction of errors from field. Information from the Central LITS database can be queried from remote location at each veterinary district. This facility will be expanded later to allow other users/clients browsing information. One of the potential users of the system is the Police force to deal with cattle theft. At present, the animal identification system is already recognised by farmers as cattle theft deterrent.

Data transfer between the Yellow Box and the Central Server is done in Gaborone through a docking station which extracts data from the former and uploads to the later. Once data from the Yellow Box is transferred to the Server, updated national data is loaded again on the Yellow Box for the subsequent field operations. Attempts to transfer data from district or regional veterinary offices to the Central Server through Internet were not successful because of the current narrow bandwidth.

6.3 Other databases

The different sections of the Animal Production Division collect data on their respective activities from districts where they have staff member(s) stationed in a monthly report. None of the eight sections of the Division has a standard reporting format for the routine collection of data from field. What field personnel prepare and send on monthly basis is a narrative report which comes as e-mail attachment, by Fax or by ordinary mail. Each section extracts the necessary data and use for quarterly report to be submitted to the DAHP. Except for the Poultry section where field data is stored in an Excel Spreadsheet, the reporting officers were unable to see any database or computer based storage of the monthly reports coming from districts. The VEES under Veterinary Field Services (Disease Control) Division is planning to develop a database for capturing and analysing livestock export and import data. This covers livestock movement in to and out of the country as internal movement is already catered for by the LITS.

The Situation of Veld information system is assessed in combination with disaster management at MoA, hence another department.

On ranches, private or public, the Breeding system imposes to monitor reproduction events on a regular basis whether with private information systems (application like for beefmaster) or with the reporting system used in public ranches or communal farms which allows computing some of the major parameters. This deals with local farms population dynamics.

Parameter calculated Cattle: Calving percentage Traditional Farms Commercial Farms Ranches Off-take rates Traditional Farms Commercial Farms Ranches Mortality rate Traditional Farms Commercial Farms

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Ranches Small stock: Off-take rate Mortality rate Dairy yield/cow Poultry meat

Records from frequent reports are used to present an annual report and global population dynamics parameter as shown in next table

Cattle Goats Sheep Year Births Deaths Offtake Births Deaths Offtake Births Deaths Offtake 2001 55.5% 4.9% 7.7% 43.8%17.7% 5.7% 33.4% 14.9% 5.6% 2002 55.9% 5.4% 6.8% 42.6%26.8% 6.5% 33.5% 18.2% 5.0% 2003 66.6% 16.6% 12.2% 46.7% 23.9% 8.6% 37.2% 20.3% 9.4%

The CSO’s Agricultural survey in Botswana. CSO is applying a methodology for an annual agricultural survey which leads to computation of estimates for various parameters and measures in the LS sector. The details are provided in its publication.

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The CSO census is here provided in the next table as sample of estimates computed.

LIVESTOCK POPULATION ('000), 1979 – 2005 CSO census YEAR CATTLE GOATS SHEEP DONKEYS HORSES CHICKEN PIGS OSTRICH 1979 2 840 616 152 127 18 740 6 0 1980 2 911 638 149 130 22 833 6 0 1981 2 967 621 140 127 24 1 046 5 0 1982 2 979 636 140 138 24 1 146 5 0 1983 2 818 783 165 142 23 961 5 0 1984 2 685 889 167 139 23 714 7 0 1985 2 459 1 138 200 146 23 1 020 9 0 1986 2 332 1 332 229 142 24 1 179 11 0 1987 2 264 1 470 240 147 24 1 283 11 0 1988 2 408 1 691 259 150 28 1 810 13 0 1989 2 543 1 897 286 151 32 2 013 15 0 1990 2 696 2 092 317 158 34 2 126 16 0 1991 0 1992 0 1993 1 821 1 838 250 231 31 1 077 4 0 1994 0 1995 2 530 2 624 337 303 35 3 157 1 0 1996 2 249 2 205 349 336 5 1 355 3 0 1997 2 212 2 615 409 404 7 1 191 2 0 1998 2 345 2 199 393 400 8 776 4 0 1999 2 581 1 916 369 373 5 874 4 0 2000 0 2001 2 468 1 887 306 409 5 928 5 0 2002 3 060 1 683 273 405 6 866 2 1 2003 2 028 1 355 220 493 7 650 4 3 2004 2 674 1 773 108 402 7 656 5 3 2005 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

We find them in the annual publication or statistical abstract on agriculture. The census is available with various type of categorization of species and with parameters on the population dynamics as well.

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Census

Dynamics

When compared to non official census but originating from very serious Vet. sources (which methodology is different as they are accounting for animals during the mandatory vaccination campaigns), then the number differ.

Non official stats on number of animals (source DAHP)

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Trends in census from DAHP

CSO also provide most of the stats on trade including LS product and commodities like the beef and other meat.

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6.4 Assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of livestock information management

Botswana has an established livestock information management system and makes good use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The willingness and commitment of the government to invest on the system is proven by the introduction of LITS at the cost of 160 million Pula (close to 32 million USD) without any external financial assistance. This opportunity should be used to improve and expand the system in the future. The continuous operation of the VEES/DAHP Epidemiology database for the last eight years and its support for disease outbreak management show the strength of the system. Likewise, the efficient brand registration and the operation of LITS are very much encouraging.

Areas which require consideration include attention to information management in the Animal Production Division. Currently, computerised data collection and analysis seems to be limited to the Animal Health sections. The current approach of dealing with information at each division or even worse at each section leads to fragmented information. Again the Animal Production Division is the most affected as there is no attempt to bring available information together from different sections for sound decision making, planning or monitoring activities. An integrated database which caters for all sections and divisions of the Department shared over Local Area Network could be one of the solutions. Such approach brings different data set for analysis (e.g. production levels with disease distribution or condition of pasture) and allows a rational use of resources. This could be one of the areas where PRINT and DAHP can collaborate as LIMS tools basically target integrating animal health, animal production and livestock trade and marketing data.

The strength of filed data collation also seems to be skewed towards animal health. The number of staff, their wider distribution and field facilities availed to animal health staff members allow them to collect data at crush pen level. The different animal production sections, however, have presence in limited number of districts and the staff number does not seem to be adequate to capture field data. Moreover, lack of consistency and late reporting affects the amount and quality of animal production data. Remarks written in one of the animal production monthly reports indicates that … officers continue to submit reports late and the reports are usually vague, without any scientific information. Hence, while improving the database and computing side of information management, more attention should be given to field data quality and timeliness. Designing a standard reporting format which enables the collection of valuable data from field which responds to day to day information needs of the departments and training field personnel on the importance of collecting quality data and transferring these in time may solve the current problem.

There are few suggested areas of improvement for the VEES/DAHP Epidemiology database and LITS as well. The Epidemiology database as it is now does not have provision for capturing vaccination and census figures. Although vaccination figures are entered in to the LITS system, this is only the official vaccination returns and those done on private basis are not captured. Similarly, the output (reports) component needs to include disease reporting to SADC and update the report to the OIE in line with current developments of the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS). Cross checking of data from event based reporting and those sent at the end of each month is also important. The backlog of data entry for almost two to three months does not help in timely information management. Since almost all Regional and some District Veterinary Offices have computers, it is worth trying to decentralise data entry and electronic data transfer to the DAHP. In quest for better solution, the Department has started approaching institutions such as FAO for a database. However, the

Mission report on the visit to Botswana LIMS situation analysis January -February 2007 Page 33 responses are not that satisfactory. This is one of the main areas where the Department can collaborate with PRINT. LIMS tools will be based on decentralised information management approaches and the DAHP can be one of the first beneficiaries of the tools.

Although LITS works perfectly and responds to current needs, there is room for improvement. One of the priority areas is the transfer of data from the Yellow Boxes in the field to the Central Server in Gaborone. Under current arrangements, each Extension Agent has to physically bring the Yellow Box to the company contracted to provide technical support to download data and upload with updates. Depending on the distance of the district from Gaborone, the data download and update upload is done on weekly or monthly basis. This compromises real-time data access, cost more as every Yellow Box has to be brought to Gaborone every week or every month. Field staff members have to shuttle between their work place and Gaborone and valuable time is lost on this. In addition to looking for wider bandwidth for data transmission different solutions should be explored such as minimising download and upload data to only the changes since last download/upload session. This may imply redesigning the application, which in any case would be required after five or six-year operation. If the design and development of the second version of LITS database is considered, it is worth while expanding its use to other areas which are currently deactivated. As it is now, LITS seems under exploited. Putting it on-line with secure access (User ID and Password) could also expand its use by other institutions (e.g. Police) and may enable districts upload/download latest changes.

7. OTHER ACTIVITIES As planned before this mission, GIS data for Botswana was collected. General GIS data for the country was purchased prior to the mission. However, as the veterinary districts and regional set up for operational purposes by the Department is different from the administrative structure, it was important to collect these specific data. Moreover, GIS data on veterinary zones, location of crush pens and veterinary fences are some of these specific data gathered during the mission.

There is a survey department in town which sell topo-maps. The catalogue is attached.

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The survey department somehow also deals with maps of land categorization given the various status of land in Botswana. This has implication in the type of farms we deal with. An illustration is given with freehold land (private farms) in the next map.

Maun Region

Francistown Region

Freehold Farm

Central Region

Freehold Farm

Western Region

Gaborone Region

Freehold Farm Southern Region Freehold Farm

8. DEMONSTRATION OF ARIS

During the Livestock Technical Committee meeting in May 2006, where ARIS was presented, participants recommended the demonstration of the application to technical staff members dealing with livestock information in Member States. Following this recommendation, ARIS was demonstrated during the information needs assessment in Angola. Similar demonstration of the functionality of ARIS was planned during this mission and took place on 13th February 2007. The half-day demonstration included a brief presentation on the general philosophy of ARIS followed by navigation through the data entry, query building and report generation of the different modules. Four members of the VEES, namely Dr. Neo Mapitse, Dr. M. Mokopasetso, Mr. Anthony Dingalo and Mr. Celestius attended the demonstration. The demonstration came at the opportune time where the Department is looking for appropriate application for their information management needs. The staff members of the Animal Production Division were not invited to the ARIS demonstration. Hence, they did not attend the demonstration, being this the weak point of the exercise. At the end of the demonstration, ARIS was installed on one of the computers and the training manual provided to allow staff members to explore more the application’s functionality.

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9. CONCLUSIONS

The mission went very well and almost all sections of the Department were visited and discussions held with heads of sections and technical staff members. From the discussions, the following conclusions can be drawn.

• The department is currently designed to provide disease control, veterinary public health, training, animal production extension, animal identification and traceability and veterinary diagnostic services. Meat inspection services at municipal abattoirs are currently outside the mandate of the department but will soon be after the relevant Bill has passed through parliament. • Staffing levels in the department are generally adequate • The DAHP has long experience of field data collection and using electronic databases. The disease reporting database was introduced in 1999 and functions very well to date. • Disease data collection and transmission is event-based and starts at crush pen level. • The Livestock Identification and Traceability system (LITS) introduced in 2001 is progressing very well. However, there are rooms for improvement, especially issues pertaining to data transfer from the field computers to the central server. • Data collection, storage and analysis at the Animal Production Division are not as strong as in the veterinary field services. Structured and standardised data collection forms do not exist and the narrative monthly reports from districts some times are missing. This is further affected by the factor that most Animal Production sections do not have presence in all districts in the country to provide services and compile reports. Hence, information on some parameters is patchy. • There is no electronic database in Animal Production sections except for few spreadsheets where data are stored. • There is large amount of information in the DAHP. However, there seems to be fragmentation. • The Department’s quest for an information system is a timely move and that shows their needs coincide with what LIMS is planning to offer to Member States. That makes Botswana a very good candidate for pilot project as soon as the first phase of LIMS, the animal health module made available in April.

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10. ANNEX

ANNEX I - Contact address

Detailed addresses (cf. copy of business cards)

Name Position Dr. Musa Fanikiso Director of the DAHP Dr. M. Letswenyo – Deputy Director (CVO Field services – disease control) Mr. S.K.M Mosielele – Deputy Director (CSO Animal Production) Dr. Neo Mapitse – Head Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Sections (VEES) Dr. Mokopastseso – Epidemiologist (VEES) Dr. John C. Moreki– Head Poultry section Mrs. Gertrude Nurse Principal Scientific Kelebemang – Officer, Poultry section Mr. Robbie Kenneth – Head livestock marketing section Mr. Anthony Dingalo – IT specialist VEES Mr. Celestius - IT specialist VEES Dr. Farai Chikwada– Veterinarian (new staff from Zimbabwe employed at DAHP) Mr. Lesitamang Lister Principal Scientific Paya – Officer (Hide and skin) Mr. Kedikiwe O. Principal Scientific Kedikilwe – Officer (Livestock Identification and Traceback System – LITS) Mr. Lebani Nthoyiwa - Principal Scientific Officer, Dairy section Mr. Sonnyboy Bengane Field officer LITS Edson – Mr. Erence Otokwe - LITS database administrator Mr. Setshwane Kgetse Head of small stock – section

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ANNEX II - Disease reporting form

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ANNEX III – GIS and geographical aspects

Country: Botswana Representativity: January 2000 Source of the data: Department of Surveys and Mapping SALB project, Copyright © United Source of the codes: Nations 2003. All rights reserved According to the National Mapping Agency, there was no 2nd Comments: administrative level in Botswana in January 2000

Various sources of GIS data o be selected for a GIS LIMS Source RRSU ADMIN3

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RRSU ADMIN1

RRSU ADMIN2

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DAHP Vet districts

Botswana Veterinary Extension Areas N

W E Angola Zambia Caprivi Strip S KA CHI KA U SA TAU KA SA N E MOHEMBO EAST SHAK A WE PANDAMATENGA SE RO NG A SE POP A WILDLIFE & FORESTRY

NX AUN X AU ETS H A Z WILDLIFE AREA im GUMARE b NATA RANCHES a QANGW A b SHOROB E NOKANENG w MAT LAP AN A e SE PA KO TSAU NA TA GWETA KOM AN A CH A N OG A T O SE MB OYO O NK AN G E A ZOROGA M MAK A LAMA BEO DI E SE HI THWA R O KU MA GA TUTUME MAP OK A GTOTENG N M E SOW A KA RE NG IB HAINA EAST MOS ETS E MAS UNGA OD RA KO PS TSHE SEBE B HA IN A W ES T XH U MO W E ST FRANCISTOW N RANCHES RA KO PS E AS T MOP IP I MAT SI TAM A

Namibia MMA TS HUM O MOS U BOR OLONG TOROMOJ A MOK OBOX A NE MOK UB ILO (f) MAT SILOJE ) GHANZI NORTH a MOK ( UB ILO (s ) TONOTA WE ST SE TAT A T MAKOBA O S R GHANZI S OUTH KE DI A E OM TONOTA EAST H M W S A E A S TOBA NE N M H MAB E LE A PUD I A M O K R MMA D INA RE A O SE MOLA LE/ KOB OJ ANGO T H (b E ) SE LIB E PHIK WE L TSHIMOYAPULA KOR A KOB IS MOLA LATA U KALAHARI GAME RESERVE PA JE TOPI SI E AST SE FOP HE MOSOLOTSHANE NORTH XA NA GA S THAB ALA TOPI SI W ES T TSETSEJWE TAM ASANE MOGA PI M TH AB AL A (SE b ) RO WE NOR T HE R N TU L I B L OC K OSO PA LAP YE MAK UNDA KA L KFON T EI N LOT MAUNATLALA S H A NE SO MOIYABANA RA T H O L O HA N AH A I U TH LE R AL A KU LE KA LAMA R E SE LEK A FAR M SE FHAR E SE L EK A RA NC H E S DONGDONG KODIBELENG TAUPYE NC O J A NE SH OS HO NG MAKWATE LEPHEPE OTSE MOGOM E KUD UMAT SE KH UTS E SHADISHADI HUNHUKWE KHUDUMALAPYE POLOK A SA L AJ WE MALW ELW E MOOKANE MOTOK WE BOA TLAN A ME LE H U TU T U DU TL W E LESHIBITSE RA MOT LAB AK I BOTLHA PATLOU HU K U NT SI TAK AT OKW AN E AR TE SI A KA NG MABOANE LE T L H A KE NG LENTSWELETAU OLIFA N TS D R IFT

Namibia LEGEND MAB UTS ANE BOK AA Republic of LO KG W AB E MORWA MOS U MONWA NE TSHA NE KOP ON G MALO LW ANE SE KOM A J1 - J W A NE N G OODI South Africa Veterinary Districts SE SE GABORONE KHAK HEA Delta THANK ANE MOS HUP A SA MA NE PI TSE NG SE SU NG RA N AK A Veterinary extension areas MAO KA NE WERDA LO RW AN A MAK OP ONG HE R EF O RD GASITA LO BA T SE LO RO L W AN E GEM SB OK KALAHA RI GR MMA THET HE MET LOBO GOOD HOPE OMAWENE NO MAB ULE HE BR O N TSABO NG

MID DLE PI TS Republic of

BOKSPITS South Africa

Department of Animal Health and Pr oduction Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Section Private Bag 002 Gaborone Bo ts wan a 100 0 100 200 Kilometers Tel: ( +267) 3950424 Fax: ( +267) 3903744 E-mail: DA HP@ gov.bw

Extension areas

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VET Zones

OIE zone = idem

Botswana Veterinary Disease Control Zones

18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32

Angola Zambia -1 8 aprivi Strip -1 8 C Kasane N 2a Shakawe W E 1 2b 16 S

3a Z 2c imb -2 0 ab -2 0 15(BMCMaun Ma un) % Na we ta 3b 3c

Fr an ci Namibia 3c sto 6 wn 4a Letlh akane % 18(BMC Francistown) 4b 5 Serowe Sel ebi -Phikwe 17 -2 2 8 7 -2 2 12 Pal apye Ghantsi 9 Mahalapye 10

Hukuntsi Molepolole -2 4 -2 4 Namibia Republic of Mochudi South Africa 13 Jwaneng 11

Gabor one Kanye

% 14(BMCLobatse Lobatse) Tsabong -2 6 -2 6 Le gend Republic of Del ta Dis eas e Co ntrol Fe nces Afr ica nat io na l ad min ist rat i ve bo un dar ies South Africa Veterinary disease control zones Stockfree (fmd vaccination zone) Stockfree (fmd free zone) Department of Animal Health and Pr oduction Oie fmd buffalo area Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Section Private Bag 0032 Oi e f md va ccin at io n zon e Gaborone, Oi e f md f ree zone Botswana. 100 0 100 200 Kilometers Oie buffer (observation) zone Telephone: (+267) 350635 Fax: ( +267) 303744 %[ BMC Abattoir e- mail: [email protected]

18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32

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Land lease system commercial and communal Lease hold

Freehold

Maun Region

Francistown Region

Freehold Farm

Central Region

Freehold Farm

Western Region

Gaborone Region

Freehold Farm Southern Region Freehold Farm

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TGLP status

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ANNEX IV – Terms of reference for the mission

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR PRINT LIVESTOCK PROJECT MISSION ON INFORMATION NEEDS ASSESSEMNT TO BW

The overall objective of the Mission is to discuss the information needs of the Departments of Veterinary Services and Animal Production of the Ministry of Agriculture of Botswana. Information requirement in areas of Animal Health, Animal Production and Livestock Trade and Marketing in time and space scale, the purpose (planning, decision making, reporting or informing the general public or authorities) and ways of presentation will be discussed with staff members of the Department working in different sections.

Specific objectives will include, but not limited to, the followings: 1) Identify information needs of Animal Health Services 2) Identify information needs of Animal Production section 3) Identify information needs of Livestock Trade and Marketing 4) For each of the above, explore the spatial and temporal scale, the purpose for which and the format in which information is needed 5) Review the current information management systems (data sources, collection methods, databases used, outputs of data analysis, etc.) in each of the three major areas. 6) Collect GIS Data

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ANNEX V – CD (electronic annexes): The CD attached to the report provides a variety of documents and of dataset that have been retrieved in view of preparing the design and planning of LIMS. It is available for consultation (PB or BB).

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ANNEX VI – Illustration on Master data of LIMS, and implication for structures of table There are fixed Parameters to be used in master data series (static dataset in LIMS)

Master Animal Health data Table: Excerpts from SADC AH reporting format Table of Disease Codes Code Disease Code Disease A010 Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) B051 Anthrax A011 FMD Virus O B052 Aujesky's disease A012 FMD Virus A B055 Heartwater A013 FMD Virus C B056 Leptospirosis A014 FMD Virus SAT 1 B058 Rabies A015 FMD Virus SAT 2 B059 Paratuberculosis A016 FMD Virus SAT 3 B060 Screwworm (C. hominivorax) A017 FMD Virus Asia 1 B101 Anaplasmosis A018 FMD Virus not typed B102 Babesiosis (bovine) A020 Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) B103 Bovine brucellosis (B. abortus) A021 VS Virus Indiana B104 Bovine genital campylobacteriosis A022 VS Virus New Jersey B105 Bovine tuberculosis (M. bovis) A023 VS Virus not typed B107 Dermatophilosis A030 Swine Vesicular Disease B108 Enzootic bovine leukosis A040 Rinderpest B109 Haemorrhagic septicaemia (bovine) A050 Peste des petits ruminants B110 Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR/IPV) A060 Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia B111 Theileriosis (bovine) (ECF/corridor) A070 Lumpy Skin Disease B112 Trichomoniasis (bovine) A080 Rift Valley Fever B113 Trypanosomiasis A090 Bluetongue B114 Bovine malignant catarrh A100 Sheep & goat pox B115 Bovine spongiform encephalopathy A110 African horse sickness B202 Dourine A120 African swine fever B307 Fowl pox A130 Classical Swine Fever (Hog cholera) A150 Fowl plague C702 Blackleg A160 Newcastle disease C614 Sheep scab (mange)

Master Animal Production Population data: Category of animal taken into consideration in Malawi given reporting format provided

So far some categorisation is provided in the SADC reporting format on animal production, but there is no flock composition.

Cattle Sheep Goats Horses Donkeys Pigs Poultry Ostriches Deer

Where some countries clearly have the capability to provide more detailed information, they generally adopt a regionally non harmonized presentation, where categories reflect the specific utility of the animals for the MS. This will pose problems of harmonisation as it is illustrated in the tables. Generally categorisation adopted is a mix between biological categories (age / sex), and functional categories (economic and production-oriented, or commodity related e.g. dairy, draught, meat..)

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Master trade and marketing LTM master data: Part of the master datasets for commerce (import M and export X) should be the set of parameters used in the harmonized system HS (international custom system with 2 up to 6 digits to categorize the product which is traded), as it is already used into the SADC trade database, as it will allow full integration of both systems by export of data and import based on similar categorisation scheme

Table : HS2 used for agricultural products

Master Data: Coding some geographical structures The same principles apply to geographical data

To be easily mapped and represented, a significant % of tabular data stored under LIMS, should be allocated (or joint) to a given geographical infrastructure dot, polygon, polyline: (e.g. a disease outbreak at a date was located at a given cattle post). Hence it is recommended that an indicative list of such veterinary and LS infrastructures be used as illustrated in the following table. This is part of the master dataset

Table: Some examples of geographical structures of interest on LS to be recorded and geo- referenced in a GIS, hence in a LIMS. In yellow some layers which LIMS GIS should take attention to, since one can notice discrepancy with regard to the WHO reference system.

In yellow we have highlighted very important layers for Botswana

Origin Destination of Type of geographical object Comments / sources movements Administrative zone 1 Region / Polygon Topo-names differ / cf. Vet region References WHO valid Administrative zone 2 Polygon FEWS and Survey department Districts / vet. districts sources or MoA DAHP only Administrative zone 3 Polygon FEWS and Survey department sources or MoA DAHP only OIE export zoning DAHP only

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Elementary LS management zone Polygon MoAFS only (or epidemiology unit): Dip tank Agricultural survey CSO polygon Sampling Blocks Elementary LS management zone dot (or epidemiology unit): Crush pen / chief Kraal Village habitat (gazeeter) dot FEWS Veterinary extension areas VEA Livelihood zones FEWS Veterinary Clinic / type ABCD dot Typology Dispensary Farm homestead polygon Concept varies (commercial free hold / private; large / small) Ranch polygon Could be grouped into development blocks Border post / Gate (entry point at a dot Gate on a border border of a national territory or in a vet fence i.e. between two distinct zones within a country) Export abattoir / dot Plant / building other abattoirs (municipal, Local) dot Municipal abattoir with concrete basement / scab feedlots Polygon/ dot Quasi farm speculators dot An address Farm isolation camp/ private Polygon subset of a farm It differs from holding grounds quarantine within farm and from official quarantine Zones within veterinary fence Polygon Large area (hierarchy on the Secondary LS management zone: country) fenced zone (freedom from FMD management) Official Quarantine area Polygon Real quarantine ground / field with boundaries / fences Official Quarantine camp Polygon Building / fences Show grounds Polygon or dot Exhibition, Fair events place Urban area with LS Polygon Geographical structure Auction farm / Auction ground / Polygon / dot auction within a farm / Real sales pen Auction out of a farm Communal area Polygon An area quasi farm but where animal graze in common Marketing place dot Control point -movements Experimental farms Breeding Dot centres Large farm Fences Linear management fences Road Linear Trek road for cattle Linear Land use / Rangeland categories Free hold TLGP etc;. Regional laboratories, CVL dots

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ANNEX VII – Reports for Tabular data of LIMS, and implication for the structures of table

Tabular data are inputs to the system structure. They can provided based on various time scales Weekly Monthly, Biannual, Annual reports, and spatial scales (ADMIN123 or based on any infrastructure)

1/Animal Health data e.g. Monthly AH: The format is debated by PRINT and EIS sub committee.

2/Animal production, veld trade and marketing* Data The format for tabular data on animal production, veld trade and marketing ( APTVM) is so far an Annual & National report, which is very poor as compared to the AH dataset. There are numerous examples where stakeholders can provide a good data set at a lower scale (time scales Weekly Monthly, Biannual, reports, and any spatial scales) as it was demonstrated at the PPP workshop. On APVTM data, new changes and a new time frequency will be adopted soon in order to evolve from the current minimal reporting scheme agreed at SADC, to a more useful format. It will be undertaken under the supervision of the reference Sub C’s. In order to have this in the LIMS phase 1, this would need urgent delineation of final format; otherwise it will go more likely in LIMS Phase 2. *SADC trade database is only providing national and annual series based on value of trade, not physical volumes. Several actors can play a role in providing data and information to LIMS that the one highlighted in the commodity approach diagram, hence providing elements for assessing the variability of the parameters used as inputs of LIMS.

In the case of Botswana, the private sector can play a significant role for data provision as it was reflected in discussions arising from PPP workshop in November 2006 in Botswana.

Diagram: The institutional framework in the multi-actor approach in commodity analysis:

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PPP stakeholders Identified at previous meetings but not met during the mission.

Mr. Cattle [email protected] Philip Producers Fischer association Botswana Cattle Producers Botswana Association

Mr Botswana Cell Mompati: 71615910 [email protected] Mompati Cattle Producers

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3/ Metadata and quality module Sources of data & quality scaling (reliable to poor quality): Therefore the data sources and characteristics should be indicated in the LIMS (another master data). The example of the various census data is an illustration of the variability of information and sources that PRINT will be facing.

Census sources: Botswana 1) 1996 – 2003 (2003 Annual agricultural survey report) 2) 2004 = Report to SADC Epidemiology & Informatics subcommittee meeting (2005), 3) 2000+2005 = Cattle census for the last 9 years (1997 – 2005) by report by the Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture

Another illustration on how dealing with such issue is provided hereafter for GIS ADMIN123 dataset Country: Mozambique Representativity: January 2005 Source of the data: Direcção Nacional de Geografia e cadastro Source of the codes: SALB project, Copyright © United Nations 2002-2005. All rights reserved With the agreement of the "Direcção Nacional de Geografia e cadastro", the letters of administrative units names containg accents have been changed as follows: Comments: â became a, á became a, ã became a, ç became c, ê became e, é became e, è became e, í became i, ó and ô became o, ú became u in order to follow the specifications of the project.

Besides, the quality of data should be indicated with an indicative ranking (Metadata concept).

Some Models that provides estimates of the production are used in Malawi (to be documented). Hence characteristics should be explained (equations used) in the metadata.

Gradual extension to other tabular data, addition of documents, images There is room for an Extension to other LIMS inputs & other complementary datasets. They could be issued from routine though detailed1 reporting available in some MS (cf. price watch Namibia), or from specific datasets originated from other sources on specific topics like e.g. PRINT study2.

This aspect can be dealt with as a repository approach like done at FAO

1 e.g. surveillance of key degradation plants under risk management given climate chang, carrying (grazing) capacity, made possible by use of data from a Veld assessment and calculation on stocking rates (Livestock units) like in RSA. 2 e.g. specific CBPP and FMD information system, all to fall under Laboratory and EIS sub committees

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