30 May 2025

The Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi North, Mr Reason Lekhutlane says he has taken heed of Kang farmer’s call for legislative reviews and infrastructure development to address the growing challenges facing the agricultural sector.

Mr Lekhutlane said this in his remarks at the Kang Farmer’s Day, which was organised by the Kang Farmer’s Association held at Khakha Farm over the weekend.

He indicated that with increased pressure from wildlife management zones and poor access to markets, stakeholders say immediate action is needed to safeguard livelihoods and boost productivity.

He therefore confirmed that he would table the motion in Parliament for legislative reviews on policies that are causing setback in the agricultural sector.

“A key concern among farmers is the limited land available for farming due to the expanded Wildlife Management Areas in the region, therefore there is need for government to consider allocating dedicated farm land to ensure food security and protect the agricultural economy,” he noted.

He indicated that there is therefore a pressing need to engage in Parliament and review laws that affect farmers and establish how these laws can be improved to best support farmers.

Additionally, more has to be done as farmers are seeking better systems for selling cattle to the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) as many say the current model is inefficient and leaves them with minimal profit margins. In response to increasing cases of livestock theft, Mr Lekutlane also called for the establishment of a fully functional Anti-Stock Theft Unit.

“With the village experiencing rapid growth, I believe that the presence of a dedicated unit will help curb theft and ensure greater security for farmers’ investments,” he added.

He further shared that farmers in that region also see potential in the Multi-Species Abattoir in Tsabong, which could serve as a key market for Kang farmers.

However, poor road infrastructure especially the sandy Tshane-Tsabong route poses a significant barrier. “It is not practical or profitable to transport livestock via the Sekoma-Tsabong road.

Prioritising the construction of the Tshane-Tsabong road could make a huge difference,” he said. He therefore pleaded with the Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe to support him when tabling such motions in Parliament, as it will go a long way in addressing part of his Ministry’s mandate.

Mr Lekhutlane further encouraged them to join associations to strengthen their collective bargaining power. Currently, membership in these associations remains low, limiting their ability to influence policy and pricing structures.

As discussions continue, it is clear that a multi-faceted approach, combining legal reform, infrastructure investment, and community organisations are essential to secure a sustainable future for Kgalagadi’s farming communities.

For her part, BMC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Mmabasotho Tibe said as BMC, they are working to ensure consistent, high-quality throughput by supporting farmers with information, farmer support programmes, including logistical support where necessary.

She said, they are opening new markets that demand premium beef and reward quality, adding that these markets will require the BMC to ramp up production, whilst maintaining the excellence of Botswana Beef, and that cannot be possible without farmers’ direct support.

“We are modernising our abattoirs, improving traceability systems, and ensuring compliance with international standards. We are expanding our secondary processing, to include a wider range of beef products.

This added beneficiation of our beef will allow us to fetch even more premium pricing and improve our brand presence and ultimately increase value accruing to the primary base producers,” she said.

She shared that none of this works without farmers, hence they implore them to be participants in the beef value chain. Ms Tibe shared that BMC is actively collaborating with government ministries to align on policy and support.

“Together, we are building a value chain that is inclusive, efficient, and export-ready. As we look to the future, I ask each of you to adopt best practices in animal husbandry and form cooperatives to increase bargaining power,” she said. ENDS.