23 Aug 2018

The farming community has been urged to produce to meet the needs of the market.

Officiating at this year’s national agriculture show on August 23, QK Group SA’s Mr Peter Queally said if farmers produced for the needs of the market, some of the challenges they faced would be addressed.

He told show attendants among them President Mokgweetsi Masisi and First Lady Neo Masisi that it was imperative for farmers to understand that production was not only about export.

For farmers to attain success, they had to start by looking inwards for markets, he said.

He said the fact that the bulk of milk consumed in Botswana was not produced locally proved that the local market was untapped.

Mr Queally further said it was critical for farmers, government and other stakeholders to strive towards the attainment of food security.

He said it remained vital to ensure that the food security achieved was long term.

To achieve long term food security, Mr Queally said one of the things that needed to be done was to plan for eventualities such as drought.

On a positive note, he said it was gratifying that in Botswana agriculture presented one of the biggest opportunities for job creation.

He however said it was important not to view agriculture only in terms of its job creation potential noting that the sector could also help in aggressively growing the economy and bringing in foreign revenue.

Mr Queally expressed appreciation for government’s commitment to develop infrastructure such as roads and electricity reticulation in agricultural production areas.

This, he said, would add great impetus to the continuing efforts to enhance production in the sector.

Further, he commended the country for its sound livestock disease control measures, something that he said had earned Botswana access to one of the best beef markets in the world.

Earlier welcoming spectators, the Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security Mr Patrick Ralotsia indicated that Botswana continued to strive towards achieving its vision of attaining national food security and global competitiveness in agricultural products.

He said it was for this reason that the country was continuously positioning itself to create opportunities for job creation in value addition to agricultural products, particularly because the sector carried great potential.

The minister concurred with Mr Queally on the need for farmers to produce to meet the needs of the market, saying it was only until they did so that they would be able to take the sector to where it needed to be.

On another note, Mr Ralotsia stated that 2018 was a difficult year for the farming community, particularly arable farmers, as it rained late and with minimal amounts, resulting in crops dying or being stunted.

Nonetheless, he said it was heart-warming that despite the setback, 17 district shows had been held through-out the country this year.

For his part, show committee chairperson Mr Matshego Gobuamang said the nation was not happy that most of the livestock exhibitors showcased imported animals.

He said it was the nation’s desire to see farmers exhibiting locally born and bred animals at shows.

President Masisi and his wife received gifts from some of the farmers who participated in the show.

Among the gifts was a dog, an American bully valued at P10 000; a Simmental bull, three sheep, two ewes and a ram as well as a Brahman cow specifically for Ms Masisi.

This year’ show is held under the theme ‘Enabling food security through profitable communal farming practices’.ENDS