22 Nov 2015

Farmers in Hukuntsi who sell their produce to Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) and Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) have been advised to improve the quality of their produce to maximise proceeds.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia made the call during a kgotla meeting in Hukuntsi  recently. He said farmers had a tendency to complain about pricing at the two  procurement centres without giving due regard to the quality of their produce.  He told farmers that substandard produce does not warrant good prices. 

“I bear with farmers who want good returns for their produce, but do not agree with statements made by some farmers who feel they have to be compensated because they went through health scares and other challenges during various stages of production,” he said.

The Kanye North legislator reminded the farming community to bear in mind that they were producing to feed the nation, and that there should be no room for compromising the quality of the produce.  

Mr Ralotsia said measles was on the rise, adding that the ailment does not only pose a threat to the beef industry, but also on the economy as a lot of money was spent combating it. 

He appealed to farmers to consider available management practices to fight the phenomenon. 

Area MP, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi extolled the minister for his consultative efforts to visit constituents and listen to their plight first hand.

 Mr Moipisi underscored that the recently established Special Economic Zones initiative by government, which declared Kgalagadi District one of the livestock production strongholds as a welcome development. Ends