Africa-Press – Botswana. The time is now to make agriculture fashionable and more attractive for the younger generation as their involvement is crucial to carry the country forward.
The sentiments were expressed by the acting Deputy Permanent Secretary- Livestock, in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Kefentse Motshegwa at Matlapaneng Farmers Field Day in Thulakoma on Saturday.
He regretted that despite obvious wealth in agriculture, the youth showed little interest.
Dr Motshegwa said it was unsustainable to rely only on aging farmers, saying this put the sector under threat.
He advocated for dispelling the negative stereotype associated with agriculture, such as the believe that it was a profession suited only for the elderly or economically disadvantaged.
Dr Motshegwa said another challenge facing agricultural sector was climate change, which he said had become an undeniable reality, citing widespread crop failures and bush encroachment.
He also noted the sharp decline in cattle population, which is now down to 1.7 million, as a concern.
Dr Motshegwa stated that rising production costs and global trade tensions threatened to worsen the situation.
Despite these challenges, he urged farmers to stand strong saying that while threats persisted, opportunities abound and they outweighed the challenges.
Dr Motshegwa said ample human capital in the country was one of the farmers greatest strengths, saying there were homegrown farmers in the country.
“We have what it takes. If we can pull these talents together, we can grow this sector,” he added.
He also appealed to farmers to use field day events as extension forums to share skills and knowledge.
Dr Motshegwa said the envisaged secure land title for agricultural land initiative, would act as collateral, and help unlock the economic potential of the land, as well as enabling farmers to access loans securely.
He assured farmers that the government was committed to investing in agriculture and recognises it as the mainstay of the country’s economy.
A prominent farmer in the region, Mr William Dekoker called for the transformation of agriculture and encouraged young people to actively participate in the sector.
Another farmer, Mr John Moloi mentioned that while associations were valuable, there was a need to focus on sustainable business models.
He shared that he was a member of a business group called Farmers United, which successfully built a warehouse.
He emphasised the importance of investing in research, especially during this time, to better understand and adapt to changing weather conditions.
During his welcoming remarks, Kgosi Visco Tsiane of Takatokwane emphasised that perseverance was key to reaching greater heights.
He also advised farmers to form associations within the region, warning that fragmentation could hinder their progress.
Meanwhile, Mr Focky Tlhapi, the host farmer, shared his journey of transforming his field into an integrated farm.
He said in 2014, he left his job to focus entirely on farming and he said at that time, he was 39-years-old, and now he is 50.
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