12 Oct 2014

Ms Mareledi Segoea, of Mogorosi village in the Central District is among several young farmers across the country who have benefited from the poverty eradication programme intended to relief Batswana from abject poverty.

Ms Segoea, who is affectionately known as Pinki, told BOPA in an interview that lack of employment opportunities compelled her to find ways of bettering her life.

She said she approached the agricultural offices in her village last year for more information after a kgotla meeting the Agriculture Ministry officials had addressed on various government relief programmes.

“The LIMMID programme caught my eye and I was optimistic that rearing of goats was my option because I was familiar with goats,” she said.

Pinki said initially it was not as easy as one might have thought because she had to sweat before she could get the goats she needed, particularly because of price disagreements.

“People were not willing to accept my quotations which were predetermined by government saying the offer was too small for their animals,” she said, adding that it did not discourage her; rather she told herself that one day her road to success would be paved.

Ms Segoea said after hunting for some time, she got twelve female Tswana goats and a billy goat this year in May.

“My contribution was constructing a kraal only and as I speak today, my goats are increasing at a satisfactory rate although some of them have miscarriaged,” she said.

She has applauded the government for the implementation of such programmes, saying they were a godsend; and encouraged fellow countrymen to follow suit, by standing up and utilising such programmes if they wanted to escape poverty.

She also advised the youth to develop the spirit of passion and determination in every kind of business they want to enroll in, adding that most people, especially the youth have the tendency of being discouraged by what they consider lengthy requirements and procedures of such programmes.

“Passion and true determination can drive one to success if they can just hold on a bit longer,” she said.

Pinki said she never thought that one day she would own small stock but now she is determined to make it work. ENDS