Africa-Press – Lesotho. Local farmers will stand a good chance to sell their animals to supply meat in the country after the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security imposed a ban on importation of live coven hoofed animals and their products from South Africa.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, this decision came after cloven hoofed animals in Limpopo, South Africa were identified to have foot and mouth disease.
One of the local farmers Mr Teboho Nkhahle from Mantšonyane who sells sheep in Maseru, said the initiative of banning animals from SA will allow them the opportunity to own local market share.
“We appeal to Basotho to support us especially during this time when the country will be in demand of meat,” Nkhahle requested.
He confirmed that the business is is highly challenged as their only consumers are individuals. This has resulted in lack of support in the country as bulk buyers get meat from outside the country.
Nkhahle said they could not supply their animals to Selakhapane as the government had announced, because the firm imposes their own prices. “We want to sell our animals with the price that we feel and deem appropriate for us rather than the firm imposing prices to us,” he said.
According to him, they have in years appealed to the government to locate a place where they will market their animals. He said they are aware that the most required meat is the one that falls under grade A and such come from South Africa but had requested Basotho to consider them as well.
Another farmer who is in the same business, Mr. Mokhethi Bolae, said they are experiencing challenges as they have left their original places to rent in Maseru.
He said, with the little they earn from the business, they pay rent while also buying food for the animals. According to these farmers, they came to sell their animals in the low-lands as demand is high compared to the high-lands where everyone owns animals.
