18 Aug 2015

The acting coordinator of the Agricultural Hub, Mr Boweditswe Masilo has commended Kweneng Small Stock Association for establishing the association.

Mr Masilo said this recently when officially launching the association in Molepolole.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture has put in place strategies to transform agriculture and small stock farming in particular, saying the small stock industry had the potential to transform the lives of people, if commercialised.

He noted that programmes such as poverty eradication and LIMID had small stock packages. That, he said, could reward farmers if they form partnership with government for the commercialisation of small stock.

Mr Masilo further said a lot needs to be done to improve productivity and commercialisation of small stock farming, adding that for the past few years, small stock productivity was low.

The industry, he said was yet to commercialise as there were low sales and high home slaughter figures. Therefore, he said the country need to be self-sufficient in small stock meat and reduce sales in small stock meat import.

When giving an overview of the association, one of the members, Mr Modiriemang Kareng said the association was initially established as Kweneng West Small Stock Association, but later on was introduced in Kweneng East and now covers the whole of Kweneng.

At the moment, Mr Kareng said the association had 20 members, adding that they were hoping to increase in numbers as new members register with the association.

He said on May 12, 2014, they received a certificate to the effect that they were a fully registered association. Mr Kareng also said their dream as an association, was to uphold production of small stock and sheep, saying they want to have a say in government policies and help in strategising on ways for the betterment of government programmes like poverty eradication and LIMID.

When giving a word of encouragement to the newly established association, a member of Kweneng Beef Farmers Association, Mr Warona Marobela encouraged association members to meet more often, saying failure to do so would result in the fall of the association.

He said their association met once in three months, and later abandon the association due to personal commitments. Therefore, he advised them to have passion and look at the association as their “baby.” BOPA