22 Jun 2015

Botswana Ostrich Farmers Association (BOFA) will hold a Mid-Term Stakeholder Consultative seminar at the University of Botswana from June 29- 30 to confront some of the perceived challenges identified in the industry in order to equip farmers with necessary knowledge to get into the industry.

A press release from BOFA stated that the meeting aims to provide a forum for constructive engagement between the association, its membership and wider stakeholders.

The Seminar comes five months after the leadership and business development workshop for ostrich farmers that were held in January 2015 which culminated in the election of a new executive committee for the association.

It says the consultative seminar comes as a result of a BOFA evaluation of farmer capacity training needs that seeks to address issues of concern to the ostrich farmers and those with an interest in the industry.

Due to the relative novelty of the industry, adequate planning is essential both at national and project level prior to taking the plunge into ostrich production in order to achieve a sustainable industry, it said.

According to the release, a meeting of experts in the industry held in Pretoria 1998, a common trend observed in global studies of ostrich production follows a typical scenario.

New farmers enter the industry obtain funding, breeder farms set up, indiscriminate quality ostrich chicks, inadequate training, trying out feed rations for commercial production.

It further says new farmers obtain poor results because of substandard products, market and logistical challenges; industry collapse because of lack of continuity, cash flow challenges, project collapse.

“At this point, the industry goes into a hiatus and the cycle starts again with negative perceptions and inadequate information,” it notes.

Therefore, the statement says a common assertion with all stakeholders in the ostrich industry is that there is a dire need for planning before ostriches can be regarded as a basic agricultural commodity in Botswana.

The mid term stakeholder meeting aims to bring together local and international players in the industry to deliberate these issues as farmers will be afforded the opportunity to be informed by various stakeholders in attendance of their stake in the development of ostrich farming enterprises. Ends