Africa-Press – Botswana. Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao on Friday donated a Simmental stud bull to Mr Edward Manowe, a farmer of note at Morotole cattle post near Patayamatebele in the North East District.
Mr Molao donated the bull on behalf of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and relayed that the gift was a continuation of the latter’s initiative to improve the quality of Botswana beef and increase the cattle population.
“Re hano go tlisa mpho e Tautona a e ntshitseng mo lebakeng le le kwa morago ngwaga o o fetileng a tsweledisa mosepele o a saleng a o tlhomile wa go abela Batswana ba ba itekang leruo go rotloetsa thuo le tokafatso ya letsopa le re le ntshang re le Batswana,” he said.
He was confident that the full-blooded Simmental would increase Mr Manowe’s livestock and help the country augment its cattle population, which had drastically reduced over the years.
Minister Molao called on Batswana farmers to take a leaf from Mr Manowe, whom he commended for his passion for livestock so that they too could have a return on investment in the agricultural space.
He reminded all that the donation could have been made in the past, but was stalled by livestock movement restrictions occasioned by the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the district.
“Ka nako e Tautona a neng a aba dimpho tse di neng di buiwa hela ka molomo di seyo ka namana. Mme jaanong ka metsamao ya leruo e buletswe re tlisitse mpho e tsatsi leno,” he said.
On other issues, Minister Molao reiterated that plans were already underway to establish Thuo Letlotlo to build a robust livestock sector.
District agricultural coordinator, Mr Gwilizani Maposa echoed Minister Molao’s words and believed the benefactor had all it takes to take care of the bull and reap the best out of it.
Kgosi Simon Nkgageng of Tati Siding also lauded the initiative by President Masisi to help improve the quality of livestock throughout the country.
Such a feat, he stated, should be supported and sustained through and through for the betterment of the livelihoods of the citizenry.
Mr Manowe, who could not hide his excitement, said when receiving the bull that it had fallen in the right hands.
“I have been waiting for this moment. I will take care of it to ensure the expansion of my cattle herd,” he said.
North East deputy council chairperson, also Makaleng councillor, Mr Mothusi Nakedi showered praises on President Masisi’s initiative, saying it would go a long way in improving people’s livelihoods and ensuring the country’s food security.
He solicited the government to review its position to relieve farmers from unfavourable drought conditions.
Mr Manowe was also gifted a cattle trough, two bags of animal feeds and the Ivermectin vaccine.
Besides cattle, Mr Manowe keeps an assortment of birds such as ducks and chickens.
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