30 Jul 2018

Acting Vice-Chancellor of BUAN says in addition to providing the necessary platform to exhibit farm products, agricultural shows are perfect vehicles that farmers can use to promote produce.

Dr Mataba Tapela, who was the guest speaker during Moshupa Sub-district trade show on July 28 was responding to sentiments by the show committee chairperson Mr Kagiso Maswabi who was not happy that not a single cow had been exhibited at the show.

Dr Tapela said failure by farmers to leverage on platforms such as agricultural shows was detrimental to both the development and growth of the sector.

“You have denied yourself a golden opportunity to market your animals to potential customers,” he said.

Additionally, Dr Tapela said there was a need for a paradigm shift by the local farming community to take farming as a business with huge potential to turn around their livelihoods.

He stated that farmers should be mindful of the huge finances government continued to inject on the agricultural sectors through interventions such as ISPAAD and ensure a return on investment.

“Just this past ploughing season, about P1.1 million was spent on farmers through ISPAAD programme across Moshupa sub-district. Now the question that follows will be where the harvest is?” he said.

However, Dr Tapela commended the sub-district show committee for bringing along other agricultural related businesses and service providers to the show, saying such symbiotic relationship was vital to revamping and modernising farming.

Local Enterprise Authority Business Advisor, Mr Golebaone Molefe emphasised the importance of mentoring.

He said important business aspects among them; business plans, branding, market linkages could help businesses reach greater heights.

Mr Molefe said LEA, which had a total of five incubators across the country was more than ready to teach Batswana the intricacies of doing impactful business.

Giving an overview earlier on, the sub-district chairperson, Mr Kagiso Maswabi said save for the lack cattle exhibits at the kraals, there was a marked improvement at this years’ show compared to 2017 trade show.

“This has been encouraging indeed even though low rains experienced last ploughing season may have dealt a blow to the quality of crops we have at the show,” he said.

In his welcome address, Kgosi Kgabosetso Mosielele challenged farmers to take advantage of the advice proffered by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security and by the meteorological services to bring out the best out of their farming.

As per the trade show theme; Promoting Entrepreneurship; Enriching the Lives of Batswana, Kgosi Mosielele said the agricultural sector was better placed to offer multiple pathways to feed and enrich the nation; na sentiment shared by the area MP, Karabo Gare.

Mr Gare was hopeful that small-scale farmers would take advantage of the trade show and establish networks with their already established counterparts to not only improve their lives but to ensure food security in Botswana.

“Let us earnestly take to farming and utilise available government programs because that is the only avenue that can ultimately push us towards diversification,” he said in closing. ENDS