Africa-Press – Botswana. President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has launched another programme dubbed Thuo Letlotlo. The programme marks the beginning of a new era in the livestock sub-sector as no farmer is left behind with 23 packages to choose from.
Farmers will benefit from a 100 per cent grant of up to P50 000 for buying breeding stock and constructing facilities.
Launching the programme in Serowe yesterday, President Masisi said Thuo Letlotlo was output based and that those farmers who produced good results would be rewarded.
He also noted that the programme would benefit and accommodate cluster farmers, associations, cooperatives, companies, community farms and lot feeders.
President Masisi said expected outcomes of the programme, when efficiently implemented and monitored, would be the attainment of household food security and nutrition, and that small-scale farmers would be able to get reasonable income from the sale of their commodities thereby enjoying sustainable livelihoods.
He said the programme also envisaged economic growth and wealth creation for medium-scale and large-scale farmers who would be able to supply global markets with the requisite and high quality products that met global standards and were competitive.
President Masisi also said Thuo Letlotlo was intended to increase the national herd, improve their genetics, promote the export of beef and its by-products as well as beef value addition. He added that Thuo Letlotlo had 23 packages consisting of 18 for livestock and five support packages.
He said the packages had further been broken down into four different categories being micro, small, medium and large scale, adding that each had its grants and loan limits.
President Masisi also noted that the programme was in line with Vision 2036 aspirations, as it was expected to transform the economy and uplift people’s livelihoods through sustainable and optimum use of livestock resources.
To unlock opportunities for private sector participation and value chain development, he said Thuo Letlotlo had packages for entrepreneurs and private services to improve productivity.
As with Temo Letlotlo, President Masisi said Thuo Letlotlo would also operate under a digital system, urging farmers to visit Ministry of Agriculture offices around the country to enquire about the programme in preparation for full implementation.
He added that double dipping was allowed and that farmers could benefit from both Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo programmes.
“We are asking and encouraging you to think outside the box and find your path to sustainable livelihood within the menu of this scheme,” he said.
President Masisi noted that government had identified the agriculture sector as one of the priority areas that could diversify and contribute meaningfully to the transformation of the economy from upper-middle income to high income by 2036.
The livestock sub-sector includes beef and dairy cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, piggery, ostrich, rabbits, apiculture, aquaculture, equine, hides and skin, fodder production as well as game farming.
President Masisi explained that the need to develop the livestock sub-sector to a sustainable, technology driven and commercially viable standard was recommended and imperative.
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