02 Feb 2017

Many youths have turned to empowerment programmes for survival.

Ms Olebile Morekolodi (35) of Sehithwa has praised the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development Programme (LIMID) for shielding her from the claws of poverty.

Speaking in an interview recently, Ms Morekolodi explained that she was one of the few beneficiaries who were selected and given 13 goats on November 4, 2016.

Twelve were female and one male. She had applied for the programme in 2015. She explained that the programme officers also provided her with a stash of medicine to help maintain healthy goat production.

She said rearing goats was indeed a profitable business because since she started out she had been able to support herself and her family.

Ms Morekolodi explained that she usually sells her goats in the nearby butcheries and she also has personal clientele who buy from her from time to time.

Since the climate has also been favourable, she said, grass has been abundant. “Goat production is satisfactory during rainy days since goats have plenty to eat in abundance.

The grass helps supplement the goat’s diet. The production also has multi-purposes and benefits in the sense that one can acquire milk, meat as well as manure to use in plants,” she said.

Ms Morekolodi also noted that goat meat was relished by many and people have a preference for it than beef.

She highlighted that a woman had the capability and competency to venture into livestock production all it takes is; patience, passion and rescilience.

She said even when times are tough, positive thinking and the will to prevail are her two weapons to triumph.

Like any other farming practice, she said, goat production has its challenges.

In Sehithwa precisely the market for selling goats is relatively small, observed Ms Morekolodi.

Its either one sells at the butchery or to an individual, she said. Also she said at times it is better to sell goats to individual clientele since both parties can negotiate the price however at a butchery, the meat is weighed on a scale and ends up depreciating in value which is a loss for the farmer.

‘‘As the goats are roaming around looking for pastures, preys such as dogs and jackals usually attack and kill them, which is a very painful loss to endure,” she explained.

Ms Morekolodi also highlighted that medicine for the stock is virtually expensive and at times they have to travel as far as Maun to buy more especially, if they are out of stock in Sehithwa.

She implored the government to assist them in their struggle of buying goat feed more specifically in adverse weather conditions since the stock is left astray with little or nothing to eat. BOPA