07 Sep 2016

Farmers in Thabatshukudu near Lekhubu Island in Nata/Gweta constituency have decried that payments from Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) take a long time in some cases up to more than three months.

This they raised at a kgotla meeting addressed by the area Member of Parliament Mr Polson Majaga on Monday in Thabatshukudu. 

The farmers noted that selling their cattle to BMC nowadays is  a set back in their lives as at time one sells to solve a matter of urgency only to be disappointed by time taken to be paid.

And these factors are some of the major contributors to farmers opting to sell to butcheries instead of taking their cattle to BMC. 

Furthermore, a farmer Mr Onalethata Pifelo said taking their cattle to BMC comes with many challenges as they have to firstly take their cattle to Odiagwe quarantine in Gweta which is about 100 kilometres away on a very bad road. 

And at the quarantine there is no water hence having cattle there prior to their transit to the BMC is a crisis as some end up dying.

He therefore appealed to their MP to at least assist in having their road improved to help access other markets at ease adding the road is bad on all the sides that is either at Boteti side through Matshumu or at Gweta where they can access different markets.

In addition, he highlighted that the bad status of their road is also a disadvantage to their area which is within reach of tourist making their way to Lekhubu Island .

Another resident, Ms Talasha Rebagamang said they have a mobile stop which at the time it was done they were told that health staff will come and assist them from there. 

However that has not been the case and as such they are forced to either go to Matshumu or Gweta and even Nata in some case.

And with the state of their road, reaching such places for medical attention is a challenge as also there is no transport hence they rely on some members of community who own tuck-shops so that when they go for restocking, they seek transport from them.

Furthermore, she pleaded that the government should urge landboard to allocate them land for ploughing fields as well as residential plots as despite numerous requests they have noted received help.

In his response, Mr Majaga acknowledged that there is still problem at the BMC as it has not been receiving enough supply of cattle to make profits which can sustain it. 

Regarding allocation of plots, he advised that they should consider other options such as seeking allocation at other places such as Sowa town in order to leave the areas to remain agricultural production area. ENDS