Africa-Press – Botswana. Small stock farmers should adopt mind-set change to reap benefits that abound in the sector.
The call was made by the Botswana Meat Master Society president, Mr Gulaam Moorad, during the Letlhakeng Small Stock Field Day themed, ‘Association, an effective approach to profitable small stock farming businesses for food security and value chain’, which was held at Mmadijo Farm on October 21.
Mr Moorad said the time was ripe for small stock farmers to knuckle down, learn best practices and exploit the value chain of small stock farming because the sector was competitive and had a big scope.
He said the sector had potential to reduce unemployment if exploited and done on a larger scale.
He criticised farmers who employ foreigners for denying Batswana job opportunities. He said the mind-set change would help to attain food security and inspire upcoming farmers.
“This is an industry that can take us forward,” he said, with q worry that farmers in Botswana are reluctant to acquire knowledge and do their own research.
Mr Moorad, who regretted that most of the agricultural land remains idle, held a view that available land could support small stock farming on a commercial scale and allow the ploughing of fodder, particularly that the water table is high in most areas in the country.
“We are depending on lucerne form South Africa; it is not sustainable,” he said.
He said indigenous small stock can do better if proper section is done and he indicated that, “we cannot get rid of Setswana breeds as they have good traits.”
He called on the private sector to sponsor small stock associations saying there is a broader benefit if one sponsors an association.
Small stock Industry Federation of Botswana president, Dr Ontiretse Tau, hailed the Letlhakeng Small Stock Field Day as an opportunity to help resuscitate associations adding that, “to regroup after COVID-19 was an uphill task and there is hope that from now on there would be quantitative and qualitative growth”.
Dr Tau said there was a need to have a small stock association in every district and they should be supported by the Ministry of Agriculture.
She encouraged farmers to form cooperatives to sell and buy together, for example, buying feed together. She said through cooperatives, farmers could partner with chain stores to supply them.
Dr Tau said hastening the implementation of the Small Ruminant Strategy would help commercialize the livestock industry.
Mr Thabani Machacha of Chandima Boer Goats and Meatmaster and a member of front line breeders, described agriculture as a wealth creating sector if given serious attention.
Mr Machacha called on the small stock farmers to explore the local and regional market, noting that they can service them adequately.
He said extension services should reach out to farmers in a better way in order to grow small stock farming.
Managing director for Bantu Consulting, Ms Kgalemang Boza, called for commercialization of farming rather than treating it as a hobby.
Ms Boza said every thebe invested in farming from money spent on fueling the vehicle to the farm should be accounted for.
She said all farming costs should be acknowledged so that they can be managed and she said record keeping should be a habit.
She said farmers should know the viability and benefit of the value chain. For his part, Kweneng Small Stock Association chairperson, Mr Meshack Modimoofile, emphasized the need to resuscitate small stock associations. He decried lack of sponsorship towards small stock events.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
