Africa-Press – Botswana. Ongoing initiatives and programmes aimed at putting Batswana on course to generate wealth have been tailored for any citizen to benefit, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.
Presenting a Brahman bull to 68-year-old Mr Godfrey Moruisi at Meno-a-kwena cattle post in the outskirts of Khumaga on Sunday, Dr Masisi said the nation’s aspiration for wealth creation should leave no Motswana out.
He cited agriculture as one vehicle through which Batswana could climb their way out of poverty.
“The aim is for all Batswana to break free from the shackles of poverty and one way of doing that is through livestock rearing.
And because most of our people still wallow in poverty, those blessed in whatever way should have the heart to uplift their fellow citizens,” he said.
Dr Masisi noted that many were living the ideal by donating animals to the presidential bulls and rams/bucks initiatives.
In Toromoja where he also gifted Ms Bashale Chibole with a pedigree Brahman stud, the President said in addition to aiding the farmer to multiply her herd and improve meat quality, it was meant to enable her to create wealth through selling.
He hailed Ms Chibole for her resilience that saw her work hard to multiply the few cattle she had acquired through the now defunct Arable Land Development Policy.
The farmer said the bull brought to 58 the total number of her cattle and was optimistic that her livelihood, anchored as it was on the proceeds from livestock sales, would see immense improvement.
Vice president and Boteti West MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane described the bull donation initiative as a source of hope for farmers.
It would go down in history as having revolutionised Botswana’s cattle farming sub-sector, he stated. Mr Tsogwane said government was determined to eradicate poverty and create wealth among Batswana.
It was therefore crucial that the quality of stock be improved just like that of all goods produced in Botswana, said the vice president.
He urged beneficiaries to get the maximum out of their donations.
“Your dreams of one day owning a bull have come true. However, you should not stop dreaming; dream of one day auctioning out your bulls offspring to other farmers right here at your cattle post,” he said to Mr Moruisi.
In the case of Ms Chibole, Mr Tsogwane implored her to ensure other farmers benefitted from the services of her bull so that they would not be left behind.
Minister Fidelis Molao of agriculture showered the Khumaga beneficiary with praises for religiously using the artificial insemination programme.
He said Mr Moruisi’s gift was a seed planted in fertile soil as the farmer already understood the importance of constantly improving one’s breed.
Mr Moruisi, who started cattle rearing with 12 cows in the early 2000s, said the bull was a dream come true as he had long yearned for one.
He said he built a bull enclosure some years back in anticipation of owning one someday and was enthralled that the dream had become a reality.
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