Quthing, August 30 -- The Prime Minister Mr. Samuel Matekane will officially launch the Artificial Insemination Centre at Sheep Stud Upper Moyeni in Quthing on 31th August 2023.

In an interview the Quthing District Agricultural Officer Mrs. ‘Mamokhoebi Mokuoane said the centre will provide artificial insemination services with the aim to improve genetic make-up of the local stock and minimise cross border costs in purchase of merino sheep rams and angora goats’ bucks from South Africa.

Mrs. Mokuoane said the importance of artificial insemination includes reduction of the possibility of spreading sexually transmitted diseases between males and females and a farmer could accurately predict when kids or lambs will be born.

Mrs. Mokuoane stated that the value of procuring high quality breeding stock is understood by progressive farmers and a big number of wool and mohair farmers crossing the border regularly to buy breeding stock to improve genetic diversity of flocks.

The Artificial Insemination Centre programme is a collaborative initiative of the Wool and Mohair Promotion Project (WAMPP) and Lesotho National Wool and Mohair Growers Association (LNWMGA) and department of Livestock services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.