A BAN on Irish heifers by Uganda and Tanzania because of the BSE scare has led to an Irish Third World charity being approached by other nations to establish a scheme for the poor in their countries instead.
Bothar, a Limerick based charity, suffered a setback to its plans to help destitute families in Uganda and Tanzania by providing dairy livestock. The project involved the donation of a cow to each family. Bothar was to send 200 dairy heifers donated by farmers, community groups, schools and factories.
Mr T.J. Maher, Bothar chairman and former MEP and IFA chairman, wrote to donors saying: "These poverty stricken families have been preparing for several months now to receive a heifer and we believe we should not let them down. These people are innocent of any blame and yet they could be the ones to suffer the serious consequences of not receiving a cow.
Bothar is investigating new ways to assist African families.
Mr Maher said the charity intended to increase its shipment of dairy goats from 100 to 200 and was investigating the possibility of acquiring cross bred heifers in Africa.
A local cross bred heifer could yield about 1.5 gallons of milk a day and we feel that, whereas it will not be nearly as good as our own animals which would yield four to six gallons a day, it will be better than letting the families of these poor Africans go hungry", he said.
Mr Peter Ireton, Bothar secretary, yesterday told The Irish Times that the charity had inquires from three African countries and one South American country.