24 Jul 2017

The Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) is committed to supporting agricultural shows in their region.

Speaking at the Maunatlala agricultural show on July 22, acting SPEDU CEO, Mr Maiba Samunzala said they had reserved P580 000 to be used to conduct agricultural shows in the SPEDU region

The Tswapong North agricultural show was sponsored to the tune of P100 000 from SPEDU to prepare for the show.

Mr Samunzala said SPEDU as the driver for regional diversification was committed to support shows in their region.

He said the objective was to strengthen regional agricultural shows and make them more competitive and attractive to exhibitors.

Mr Samunzala noted that the SPEDU region has potential in all agricultural sectors including veld products and tourism.

He said although zone seven and nine were FMD prone areas, there was need for cooperation by farmers to maintain the green zone status.

He said the district has the best breeds of cattle and was also the highest contributor in terms of fruits and vegetable products.

He said the Tswapong North agricultural show, which was held under the theme: "Integrating crop and livestock farming technology, a captivating link in the wake of climate change,” had experienced a decline in attendance as compared to last year.

Mr Samunzala said the main purpose of the show was to act as a platform for learning, economic stimulation, marketing, networking and the rewarding of good performers. 

He said the theme was relevant given the climate dynamics that were experienced, adding that it was also a learning carve to farmers to adopt sound techniques which would thrive in the trying times.

He urged farmers to be alert and use resistant genes with fast growing attributes, good shelf life and conversion ratios, minimum tillage and protected production.

He also urged them to adopt moisture conservation measures, programming of systems, artificial insemination and embryo transfer.

He noted that the livestock census in the SPEDU region for 2016/17 had shown that there were 152 431 cattle, but that only 14 725 were sold to BMC and local abattoirs.

He added that goats stood at  over  6.225 tonnes, sheep 11 537 but that only 2.6 tonnes were sold, while pigs stand at 790.

He also noted that cereal production had done well compared to last year while legume production declined due to flower and pod abortion. 

He urged horticulture farmers to produce more for the country, saying they had shown that they were capable.

Mr Samunzala also urged farmers to utilise government programmes to improve their lives, and to reduce the food importation bill and promote food security. 

He said the government has provided livestock improvement breeds, poverty eradication programmes, irrigation system, ISPAAD, LIMID and CEDA, noting that all these programme were underutilised.

He also noted that vast tracts of ploughing land was not utilised for what it had been requested for.

He argued that agricultural shows could be attractive provided communities were prepared to meet and brainstorm on the full utilisation as well as management of facilities by having developing master plans for their show grounds. 

He also added that there were many ways of raising funds through the facilities which they already had.

Show exhibitors were from the Tswapong region and the surrounding villages.

The show also attracted the business community, companies and government departments and the private sector.

Exhibitors were not happy with the attendance, and some said they used a lot of money to prepare for the show.

The Tswapong North show was also graced by RB 2 radio producers who marketed themselves to the audience. 

The region is made up of five SPEDU areas of Selebi-Phikwe, Bobirwa, Tswapong North and Mmadinare-Sefophe. ENDS