25 Feb 2013

Cattle farmers in the veterinary Zone 7 area have formed an association that will advocate for their concerns.

The region, which covers Bobirwa, Mmadinare and some areas in Tonota was declared a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) red zone following traces of the disease.

Speaking during a meeting to reveal the association’s constitution and certificate of affiliation from Registrar of Societies in Bobonong on Saturday, the committee’s chairperson, Mr Keitseng Morake said cattle farmers found it fit to form an association called Zone 7 Farmers Association after the realisation that they were marginalised as compared to farmers in other districts.

Mr Morake stated that the outbreak of FMD and frequent drought compelled them to form an association to enable them to raise their concerns.

Since the outbreak of FMD in the area, Mr Morake said selling and marketing of cattle had been a challenge adding that buyers were not taking advantage of the situation and offered little money. He said it was unreasonable for cattle to be sold at P5 per kilogramme while prices were competitive in other areas.

“Those challenges forced us to form an association that will bargain for better offers with relevant authorities,” he said. However, he highlighted that the association was not limited to advocating for better cattle prices only, but would assist and train members on livestock marketing and management, conservation of grazing land and water conservation.

Zone 7 Farmers Association intended to hold meetings in all the areas that fell within their jurisdiction to woo members. Meanwhile, the farmers suggested P250 as a joining fee and an annual subscription fee of P100. 

Initially, members in the previous meeting had suggested P500 as a joining fee and members countered that farmers with few cattle would not afford the amount although they were the majority which might deter the association from growing.

Farmers reasoned that the amount was exorbitant because they just emerged from severe drought which killed many people’s livestock. The committee was given a month to inform residents of the zone about the association. ENDS