25 Mar 2013

 

Farmers in Kweneng district have bemoaned lack of support to communal farmers by Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) in favour of feedlots owners.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by the acting BMC CEO Dr Akolang Tombale in Molepolole, they expressed concern over the fact that BMC’s main focus was on feedlots at the expense of communal farmers.

“It is clear that the European market is fully enjoyed by feedlots owners who allegedly adhere to the EU regulations while we are being disadvantaged by reasons beyond our control such as lack on land”, said Mr Jacob Lebeko a farmer from Kweneng West.

He said it was high time BMC concentrated on marketing its product and desists from owning feedlot to reduce unnecessary losses.

Contrary to Mr Lebeko’s view, Mr Nicco Legotlho felt the need for BMC to operate its own feedlots in order to have the required number of cattle to be slaughtered to be able to meet the demand of the EU market arguing that the existing feedlots do not have the capacity to hold reasonable numbers.

Mr Laughter Kopi challenged the idea of using cooperatives to make feedlot adding that Batswana have lost trust on them since they previously failed in their efforts.

 Farmers also complained that communal farmers have since been left in the lurch without BMC support adding that could they had been assisted they could have enjoyed selling for the EU market.

However, BMC acting CEO assured Kweneng farmers about his intention to revive the BMC by bringing in new strategies on the abattoir operations. 

He promised to meet farmers more frequently, and open BMC district offices that have since been closed to ensure that station officers assist farmers as the success of the BMC entirely depends on them. He further urged farmers to change their livestock rearing style to help resuscitate the abattoir.

Mr Sliding Matsila shared Dr Tombale’s sentiment for farmers to support the BMC arguing that the Commission cannot operate in isolation unless through combined efforts by the farming community.

He said until the issue of land in Kweneng has been addressed, enjoying the EU market by communal farmers will remain a dream. ENDS