30 Nov 2015

Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia has hailed Engliton Investment Abattoir, saying it is an indication that private partnership with government is critical for both employment and wealth creation.

Officially opening the abattoir, Mr Ralotsia said government’s mandate was to avail a conducive environment for private companies to create employment and that there were programmes in place to finance such.

Therefore, he indicated that the establishment of an abattoir was an honour to the village, as it would raise its image and the residents would have some sense of honour to be identified with.

“This is a very prudent move as it contributes positively towards nation building subscribing to our 2016 Vision pillar of a prosperous, productive and innovative nation,” he said.

The minister further assured them that with proper management the facility would not only create employment, but would also boost the country’s economy, while at the same time offering fresh meat at their doorsteps.

“I also want to implore you farmers gathered here to up your game and ensure that your animals receive all necessary husbandry practices periodically to improve readiness of your animals for marketing and thereby raising the productivity of the sector,” he said.

He further urged farmers to brace the emerging phenomenon of climate change as the process does not absolve them from their primary responsibility of feeding Batswana.

Mr Ralotsia decried the increase of measles in animals that were brought to abattoirs for slaughter as it resulted in animals being declared not to be fit for human consumption.

That, he said was not only a loss to a farmer, but to the economy as a whole. In an interview with BOPA, the director of Engliton Investment Abbattoir, Mr Martin Engliton said it was not an easy journey to build a facility of such magnitude together with his wife, Ms Enny Engliton as they faced challenges of sourcing building materials from far flung areas.

He indicated that they took a period of two years to construct the abattoir as they were using their own money. The facility, which was constructed at a cost of over P3 million, has already employed 12 people, while additional eight would be hired when it reaches its maximum output of killing 100 cattle a day.

Ms Engliton further implored farmers to bring cattle to the facility and promised that they would create a friendly business environment for them.

Kgosi Gonkgang Mankgatau of Rakops applauded the efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture, but said they were some wild animals, which were destroying fields and crops.

Kgosi Mankgatau noted that their cattle were going to be of high standard, but the challenge was that they mingle with wild animals, which might bring some negative repercussions into the business. Ends