Africa-Press – Botswana. Preparations for Sandveld Ranchers Association Field Day slated for Saturday at Kagotsii Ranch, western Sandveld are at advanced stage.
The Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti is expected to officially launch the event.
Speaking in an interview with BOPA on Wednesday, the chairperson of Sandveld Ranchers Association, Mr Gabolekwe Tlogelang said they were working on final touches to ensure the success of the event.
The day, he noted would bring diverse stakeholders, including ranchers and financial institutions under one roof to exchange notes on how best to improve self-sufficiency and food security in the country.
Mr Tlogelang spoke of the need to take advantage of value addition to increase the value of their products and reap more benefits.
He said such a move would also strengthen efforts to commercialise the beef sector in the country and improve food security.
Mr Tlogelang encouraged stakeholders in the livestock sub sector to transform and diversify agriculture from the traditional style to new ways of farming, using advanced technology for optimum out-put.
Furthermore, he said the association remain committed to ensure that the country produced quality beef for the European market.
He spoke of the need to increase cattle herd, pointing out that in 2004 there were about 2.2 million cattle in the country but the numbers declined drastically over the years to about 1.5 million.
Meanwhile, Mr Tlogelang decried lack of agricultural extension workers in the area, saying they needed them the most to soar the beef sub-sector in the country.
He said such professionals would bridge the gap between research and farmers by helping them apply scientific knowledge and new information to improve their farming enterprises.
Mr Tlogelang said they would work directly with farmers providing technical advice, training and support to enhance their productivity and overall agricultural development.
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