06 May 2014

Governments as well as national and international organisations have awoken to the reality that agriculture is the basis for creation of wealth across most industries, chairman of Small Stock Industry Federation of Botswana (SIFB), Mr Peter Tumedi, has said.

Addressing young farmers at the second Botswana Young Farmers Association field day at Wadisigo farm on May 3, Mr Tumedi said positive change was necessary to achieve greater heights in agricultural performance in Botswana.

Mr Tumedi said young farmers should change from the agrarian system of their fore-bearers to progressive systems backed by modern technology. He challenged small stock farmers to produce for the local market and reduce imports.

He stated that a market study carried out by SIFB showed that chevon (goat meat and mutton) was in great demand locally and much more was imported. He said in 2011/12 about 300 tonnes of lamb and 63 tonnes of chevon.

In the Kgalagadi District, truckloads of live goats and sheep were often seen destined for South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal and eastern Cape areas. This, he said, was a regional market worth exploring.

Internationally, he said, there had been enquiries from some Arab states that required millions of small stock annually for a series of Muslim celebrations. He, however, explained that the federation could not commit Botswana to supply that market because the breeding was small.

Mr Tumedi said market was available for sheep and goats but the country’s production system was below par while countries such as Australia had adopted mass production technologies for small stock.

Botswana’s kidding and lambing rates hardly ever reached 100 per cent despite the fact that goats and some sheep drop twins; and could give birth three times in two years.

A negative aspect of small stock production in Botswana was that mortality rate was usually between 30 per cent and 40 per cent. Mature sheep and goats die because of heart water, internal parasites and other diseases that could be controlled under good husbandry practices.

These, Mr Tumedi said, should not be seen as difficulties but as challenges that could be overcome with good husbandry practices. Mr Thebeyame Molefe, the host farmer, said lack of land, access to finance and price constraints were among the challenges of the small stock sub-sector.

He said young farmers should equip themselves with skills to run small stock businesses. A South African small stock breeder, Ms Ansunet Cilliers, said Botswana had a good climate for goat breeding, especially boer goat.

This meant that goat rearing could be a big business in Botswana. She underscored the importance of breeding goats that would adapt well locally. Ms Cilliers said goats did not like wet weather hence they could do well in Botswana because parasites concentration was low in dry weather.

She noted that fertility of goats was high and they could have kids throughout the year. “Farming with goats can put more money in your pocket,” she said, adding that farming with good quality goats could produce quality meat.

She said the boer goat association of South Africa would be in Botswana to run courses in boer goat breeding. She said their goal was to help gain momentum to take goat breeding to a higher level in Botswana. ENDS