Africa-Press – Botswana. Ngami East Umbrella Farmers Committee is schedule to address an engagement meeting with abattoir representatives, butchers, feedlot owners, millers and meat outlet operators to discuss how best they could work together to curb stock theft.
The meeting will be held today at Ruth Khama Centre in Maun at 9am.
Formed last year April, the anti-stock theft committee seeks to collaborate with police and other stakeholders to share information on livestock theft trends, prevention techniques and other useful information that may result in curbing livestock crime.
The chairperson, Mr Lekopanye Ledimo said in an interview that the prevsalence of stock theft had led to the formation of the committee made up of farmers from Sehithwa, Toteng, Legotlhwane, Bodibeng, Bothatogo, Kareng, Semboyo, Tsau and Makakung.
The livestock industry, he said, was under attack as stock theft syndicates were making it impossible for farmers to continue doing business, hence the committee would actively work hand in hand with all stakeholders in the industry to reduce the crime and participate in other crime prevention initiatives.
Mr Ledimo said it seemed there was a readily available market for stolen stock as criminals often slaughtered cattle, sheep and goats in the bush or abandoned farms at night and loaded them in vehicles to later sell to butcheries and meat markets.
The committee, he said, would encourage slaughtering livestock in registered abattoirs not in the bush and it would also support anti-stock theft procedures in place.
Mr Ledimo said criminals targeted calves that were not yet branded and ear marked and noted that the committee would ensure the right procedure was followed when acquiring livestock produce.
“Stock theft is a serious threat to our industry, hence we saw it fit to respond positively to the government call to form anti-stock theft committees to join forces with the police to curb the escalating crime and protect the industry,” he noted.
Mr Ledimo said pastoral farming was paramount to the economy of Ngamiland as for many years commercial and communal farmers made a living from livestock, but stock theft had become a ‘severe headache’ for them.
He said the committee also sought to regulate the buying price as some farmers were being robbed by buyers and private abattoirs.
As such, Mr Ledimo said the committee aimed to come up with standard prices to ensure that farmers got value for their hard work as they put in a lot of work in making sure they produced quality meat.
He noted that it was disturbing that some households whose livelihoods were largely dependent on livestock were losing interest in pastoralism because they were not benefiting from their animals.
During the meeting, he said they would have the opportunity to update the gathering about the mandate of the committee and also look into issues related to buying and selling prices of livestock.
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