THE debate about the rollout of an electronic identification system for sheep and goats does have something of a 'cart before the horse' scenario.
In an issue that will have a big impact on industry, industry should have the lead. Instead, it feels like we have ministers and bureaucrats making pronouncements on dates and industry being forced to react.
In SA, conversations had begun about the potential of a rollout, with a committee formed to consider if the state should even go down this path, only for the conversation to be co-opted by national forces.
The committee is only meeting for the first time this week and the outcome has already been decided.
There are a lot of benefits to the sheep sector in having better traceability, particularly given the number of biosecurity scares that have popped up in recent months, that will potentially place even more pressure on the industry.
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And a short deadline means more chance of action, rather than devolving into a talk-fest. We just need the action to be down the right paths - whether that be particular technology - and not simply what is quickest and easiest.
But if the government is making big decisions about dates and deadlines, it also needs to come to the party with announcements about financial support.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
