26 May 2016

 

As government has availed different programmes to encourage self reliance and betterment of lives in different groups of society, in Kutuku, one youth prides herself in her goat business that she acquired through the Poverty Eradication Programme.

Speaking during a tour by the Presidential Inspectorate Task Team (PITT), Ms Bantlhotse Taole, 32, said that she was given 11 goats between 2013 and 2015 as well as vaccines and feeds for her small stock. She explains that she has had a passion for agriculture and had always liked looking after her parents’ small stock.

Ms Taole explained that she took pride in her small stock business because it helped her to take care of her family and helped boost her self esteem to the extent that she believeed that every dream that she ever had could come true.

“Having these goats have boosted my confidence so much that I now believe that I can achieve anything that I put my mind to. I used to think that certain things are for the educated, but now I have realised that although education is good for business, passion is key,” she explained.

The 32-year-old explained to the task team that the only challenge she faced was predators such as fox that ate goats. She was quick to add that she had lost her billy goat to the predators, but when it happened she resorted to accompanying the goats to the bush to protect them from predators.

“I realised that leaving the goats to graze by themselves was a bad idea, so I then took the decision to herd them myself,” she added.

The poverty eradication beneficiary expressed satisfaction with the programme and the officers that monitored her. 

Her dream is to breed quality breeds that she can exhibit at different agricultural expos in and outside the country.

She appreciated the presidential task team, saying its establishment showed that indeed government was committed to seeing the lives of ordinary citizens change. ENDS