Africa-Press – Botswana. Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has commenced the re-stocking exercise to compensate farmers who were affected by the cross-border livestock rustling in Bobirwa area.
The exercise, expected to take three months, started on January 18 and is expected to be complete by April 18.
Bobirwa Restocking Coordinator Mr Thebeyame Eole said in an interview that a total of 958 farmers were expected to benefit from the exercise, adding that his team was currently packaging farmers who had lost small stock.
“As soon as we finish with small stock beneficiaries, we will then start purchasing livestock for those who lost their cattle,” he said.
He said of the 958 beneficiaries, 244 would receive 4 890 goats whilst 18 farmers would receive 367 sheep.
In addition, he said, beneficiaries were given one to 25 goats depending on the number of small stock a farmer lost.
Mr Eole further explained that Molalatau and Bobonong areas had been fully packaged and all those that lost their small stock had been compensated.
However, he decried shortage of small stock in Bobirwa area which forced the veterinary teams to purchase goats in other areas such as Tswapong, Shoshong and Mahalapye.
He said the purchasing price of a goat was P1 000, whilst prices for a donkey and a cow were P850 and P5 000 respectively.
He urged local farmers to support the exercise by selling their stock to the Department of Veterinary Services.
The coordinator said restocking of livestock would commence as soon as his team finished compensating small stock beneficiaries.
He said 616 farmers were yet to be compensated with a total of 2 827 cattle whilst 80 farmers would be compensated with 296 donkeys.
Furthermore, Mr Eole emphasised the need to supply healthy and quality stock, adding that those that had some defects were rejected.
Meanwhile a beneficiary at Molalatau, Mr Edward Mafela thanked the government for compensating farmers who lost their cattle to cross-border cattle rustling.
He said he lost 30 cattle and had opted for compensation with goats, hence was given 25 goats.
Another beneficiary, Ms Mphi Pilane of Lentswe-le-Moriti was all smiles having received 11 goats after hers were stolen in 2018.
She said after losing her small stock, her life changed from farming to being a worker under the Ipelegeng programme.
Ms Pilane explained that she was looking forward to living a better life because farming was more beneficial as compared to other ventures.
Ms Kekopile Tsheole, also of Lentswe-le-Moriti managed to supply 17 goats of which 14 were purchased whilst three were rejected.
She said she was happy to help other farmers in the area to start their farming lives afresh, commending the government for giving farmers in Bobirwa area priority in procurement of stock.
She said the exercise would help to boost the economy of the Bobirwa constituency, explaining that the prices for small stock in that area were lower than what the government was offering.
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