26 Oct 2015

Southern African Confederation of Agriculture Unions Dr Theo De Jaggaer says farmers should thrive for profit failing which they will remain poor.

Speaking during small stock field day hosted by small stock industry federation of Botswana, on Saturday (October 24) at Karuu Farm in Paje, Dr De Jaggaer told local farmers that farming had two rules: “If it is not about profit then it is about poverty,” said Dr De Jaggaer who added that no other sector in Africa could create jobs in a shorter period of time than agriculture.

However, the SACAU president warned that many farmers were not battling with financial or expertise challenges but mindset change. But, on a positive note, Dr De Jaggaer revealed that he had met with various presidents of associations locally to remedy the prevailing concern. 

His observation was that many farmers sat on huge chunks of land yet they fail to produce. 

He said that the excuses furnished are mainly complaints that, ‘we are poor and neglected.’ To that he said that farmers were professionals peasants and farming was a science. 

Consequently, he challenged farmers to learn the intricacies of the farming science so that they could keep abreast with modern farming techniques.

He advised that formation of a cooperation was a critical component of farming. To drive his point home, the man who traversed over 42 African countries in his capacity as a SACAU president said, “If you can’t buy machinery alone the 10 of you can.”

Though he preached profit making a reason for farming, he advised that agriculture was ‘first and foremost about the people,’ cautioning that without the right personnel one would never succeed. The SACAU president told small stock farmers and farmers in general to get together and control the industry without necessary waiting for politicians. 

Dr De Jaggaer further challenged local farmers to be remembered as excellent farmers  who would be known for setting trends and could speak with pride telling future generations that they ended hunger.

At the same event SIFB president Mr Leo Tumaeletse challenged smallstock farmers to diversify the industry because, as he puts it, ‘we spend a lot of time and energy but return on investment is not profitable.’ 

He also talked about commercialisation of smallstock industry.

His observation was that smallstock farming could create wealth if done properly with the use of new technologies for enhanced performance.

The Tsabong - based smallstock farmer challenged fellow farmers to take it upon themselves to flourish and  called for women and young people to take to smallstock as business.

For her part, district agriculture coordinator Ms Fatima Makgethe reminded farmers that agriculture was life and as such it was incumbent upon them to ensure that they fed people to keep them alive. She told farmers that with or without rains, farmers were still expected to produce and as a result they had to find improved and new techniques of farming suitable for their conditions. Ends