03 Sep 2014

The recent outbreak of Newcastle disease in Serowe region has affected a total of 52 Tswana chicken projects with an estimated mortality of 1 040.

Speaking during a sub-council meeting in Serowe on September 1, the sub-council chairman, Mr Bafana Motseothata said the disease was still not under control but meaningful intervention had been made by vaccinating Tswana chickens for Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) and poverty eradication beneficiaries.

He said at least 667 LIMID projects and 296 poverty eradication projects were assisted in an effort to fight Newcastle in the region region. “The government has also recently made efforts by issuing out free Newcastle vaccines to all farmers to curb the disease,” he said.

On other issues, Mr Motseothata told the sub-council sitting that 14 341 hectares had been ploughed by 5 543 farmers for the year 2014/2015 cropping season. He said government, through ISPAAD, paid about P9.4 million for ploughing of these hectares.

He cautioned that although ISPAAD would continue in the next coming season only farmers who will row plant shall be assisted under this programme.

He said the region was experiencing an invasion of cynadon dactylon weed in arable fields. To address the situation, Mr Motseothata said Department of Crop Production registered 910 farmers to be assisted with herbicides to control an area of 2370 hectares this coming season through ISPAAD.

“This is a high target given the fact that farmers do not have sprayers and are inexperienced in the use of chemicals,” he lamented.

The Serowe Sub District Council chairman also touched on the issue of piggery industry, explaining that it is experiencing challenges which lead to its slow growth. He said there are currently seven projects in the district with a total population of 172 pigs with an average pork production of 425 kilogrammes.

Mr Motseothata mentioned factors that contribute towards poor performance of the piggery section as the absence of proper slaughtering facilities which are in adherence to the Meat Industry Act.

He said the high costs of pig feeds and low profits margins leads to the collapse of piggery projects. He said there is need for the introduction of subsidised prices of pig feed to enable farmers to buy them at lower prices.

Mr Motseothata also decried the funds provided by youth development fund as not being enough for the establishment of piggery projects.

Therefore, he expressed the need for the fund’s ceiling to be revised and adjusted to cover all the necessary costs with regard to piggery projects. Ends