07 May 2017

A section of poultry farmers in Botswana are obsessed with reaping profits quickly rather than implementing the necessary management practices, Ms Thandie Mfanyane, of Nutri- Feeds Botswana has said.

Speaking at a workshop organised by Botswana Poultry Association (BPA) on May 4, Ms Mfanyane, a Sales and Marketing manager at Nutri-Feeds warned farmers that they would continue to register financial woes if they neglected the importance of good farm management in their daily farming routine.

The official conceded that chicken feeding occupied 65 per cent of total poultry production costs, but she stressed that in the industry, success was only assured when all management activities were patched together.

“You can spend all the money you want on chicken feeds but if your poultry house is not up to standard upon arrival of day-old chicks, then know that your business is bound to fail. When preparing for day-old chicks the lighting, air, water and sanitation has to be good grade,” she said.

Ms Mfanyane further said it took 35 weeks to prepare broilers for market, adding that the care that the chicks received in the first week of production was crucial.

Furthermore, Ms Mafanyane highlighted that farmers had a tendency of abandoning their operational premises, urging them to desist from the practice as the delicate nature of chicks required close monitoring and care.

For his part, Mr Elisha Mope, a poultry officer from Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security said government has put in place a poultry strategy with a view of making conditions favourable for small scale farmers.

Mr Mope stated that after small scale farmers complained about exorbitant chicken feeds in Botswana, government resolved to give them leverage to buy forages outside the country.

He however, said purchased goods were not supposed to be sold to a third party but are strictly for farm use.

He also added that government sought audience with numerous chicken feeds production companies regarding high cost of feeds.

In such gatherings, Mr Mope said companies were compelled to hike prices because they spent lot of money in importing raw materials. ENDS