TAGGING AND DATA INPUT AGENTS

 TAGGING AND DATA INPUT AGENTS

DETAILS :

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO TRAIN AND REGISTER AS TAGGING AND DATA INPUT AGENTS UNDER THE BOTSWANA ANIMAL INFORMATION AND TRACEABILITY SYSTEM (BAITS)

Applications are invited from Botswana citizens with interest to be trained and thereafter certified and registered as tagging and data input agents. Only shortlisted applicants will be publicized through the print media and invited for training. Depending on the number of the shortlisted applicants training might be done in batches.

DUTIES:

• Provide ear tagging and data input services to the farmers
• Collect data using manual forms or electronic readers to be later entered into the BAITS database with 72 hours of collection.
• The agents should be able to cover a wide terrain of Botswana to provide the services.
• Observe biosecurity practices to minimize disease spread and handling practices to avoid unnecessary suffering during ear tagging.

THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ARE;

• BGCSE or an equivalent.
• Communication skills
• Basic computer skills
• Fluent in English and Setswana.
• Willing and able to work under outdoor conditions such as dusty, various weather conditions, long distance traveling and long working hours.
• The applicant should be 18 – 65 years of age
• A basic qualification in a livestock related field or extension service will be an added advantage

NB - The agents shall be paid by the farmers for the tagging and data input services provided.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested individuals, who meet the above requirements, should address their application letter titled; EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO BE A CERTIFIED TAGGING AND DATA INPUT AGENT, curriculum vitae, certified copy of educational certificates and certified copy of Omang in an envelope titled as on the application letter to:-

The Director of Veterinary Services,
Ministry of Agriculture,
Private Bag 0032,
Gaborone.

The application can either be hand delivered at Records Office; office number 115 in Gaborone at the Ministry of Agriculture or posted to the address above.

The applicant should include two referees and their contacts. The applicant should also provide their postal address, telephonic (fixed phone, fax and mobile numbers) contacts and email address for ease of communication.

The closing date for the application for expression of interest is 27th February 2015 at 1530 hrs.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BAITS

The Ministry of Agriculture through the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in 2001 introduced a livestock identification and traceability system (LITS) commonly known as the Omang-wa-dikgomo to address animal and public health issues and further more to assure continued competitiveness of the livestock industry in the international trade.

LITS was more Government centered, with very little stakeholder participation including the farming community. In 2011 LITS was reviewed and adopted into a system that is farmer oriented with enhanced participation of other stakeholders and leaving DVS with the official regulatory role.

The adopted system is the Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS) which is farmer centric identifies the individual animal and link all the information relating to that individual animal history.

The individual animal is identified by a combo ear tag set (digital and analogue) and all information relating to the individual animal including the animal identify, movement events, management events etc. are regularly updated in the BAITS central data base.

The farmers are expected to buy tags and tag their cattle and return data; manually or on line to the central data base managed by DVS. Where farmers are unable to undertake this, farmers can use certified ear tagging and data input agents registered with DVS.

The agents shall be trained by DVS and thereafter taken through a certification procedure to be registered with the Department as Registered Ear Tagging and Data Input Agents. The agents will be expected to maintain set service standards and have access to ear tagging equipment, internet and data collection, storage and transfer equipment.

DVS shall continuously monitor the performance of the agents and failure by an agent to maintain the service standards shall result into delisting of the agent. The agent can no longer provide the services of a certified and registered agent.