01 Aug 2018

 Kgatleng Poultry Management Agricultural Association has called on poultry farmers in Kgatleng District to join the association so as to learn modern methods of poultry and speak with one voice.

Speaking during the Botswana Poultry Association workshop held at Maranyane Conference hall in Mochudi recently, district officer for development Ms Maitumelo Maemo said working together as a team bore more positive results than working independently.

She stressed the importance of joining the association as a way of the collective structure where issues could be discussed and better conclusions reached.

Ms Maemo said government encouraged farmers in Botswana to form associations so that they could be assisted as a collective than as individuals.

She said therefore it was important that those who had not yet joined the association to do so.

Ms Maemo further said the district office would continue to assist the poultry association so that it grew and include those who remained behind.

She said most poultry farmers in the district were small producers and as such there was a need for them to work together so that when they were given tenders they could work together to meet expected results.

Ms Maemo asked poultry farmers to equip themselves with all necessary information for poultry production and the workshop came at a time when they needed the information more.

She said some of the poultry houses needed to be refurbished and cleaned, adding that production of quality chickens was very important as the buyers wanted suppliers who were serious with their businesses.

The development officer asked poultry farmers to utilise agricultural offices so that their chickens were taken care of and given medicine at the right time.

Ms Maemo said chickens needed a lot of care and one had to be patient until desired results were reached. She also asked them to market their products to restaurant and other outlets in order to reach out to a bigger market.

She implored them to ensure they met all the requirements for tendering so that they could be able to compete with others for tenders.

When giving an update, the chairperson of Kgatleng Poultry Management Agricultural Association Ms Nancy Makwinja said the association was registered in 2012 and launched in 2013.

She said it was a thorny journey when they began the formation of the association as only four members were on board and many refused to join them as they had to use their own resources to establish it.

Ms Makwinja further said the association now boosts of 50 poultry farmers, 45 women and five men, with a very low number of the youth among them.

The chairperson said they used to suffer as they had no market but government came to their rescue when they got tenders to supply government institutions which gave them an opportunity to revive their businesses.

She said the association was now supplying six schools, the hospital and prison department in Mochudi.

Despite progress made so far, Ms Makwinja said they did not have a plot of their own and have long applied for such with Mochudi Sub Landboard but to no avail.

Ms Makwinja further said they needed help to find donors so that they could apply for funding and be able to purchase the necessary machinery needed for their businesses.

Nevertheless, the chairperson thanked government for providing tenders to them as small producers as that had taken them out of poverty. She also thanked the District Commissioner’s office in Mochudi for the support they gave to the association.

In his welcome remarks, head of Veterinary Services in Kgatleng District Dr Farayi Chikwada said he was impressed with the gender issue in the association as it was more biased towards women than men as it was common in other industries.

Dr Chikwada said the poultry business was important as it improved household food security and income while at the same time customers were satisfied with what they got. ENDS