10 Jan 2019

A Mookane councillor has criticised livestock feed suppliers for swindling government by providing feed that is not suitable for livestock during the drought season.

Councillor Thebe Setlalekgosi made the remarks at a kgotla meeting addressed by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso at Mookane on January 8.

“During the dry season, cattle need vitamins and calcium, but livestock dealers will mostly provide beef finisher and drought pellets which are of no benefit to the animals,” he said.

Mr Setlalekgosi said livestock feed suppliers were only interested in generating income through the government subsidy.

He appealed to government to consult farmers, through farmers associations, to assist in recommending the correct menu that could benefit livestock during the dry season.

The councillor said although farmers appreciated the subsidy, it was unfortunate that it was not producing the desired results.

A resident of Pallaroad, Mr Otsetswe Mangope also shared his concerns with Ms Tshireletso regarding assistance offered to farmers by government. Mr Mangope said livestock farmers were not fully catered for by government as compared to arable farmers who were wholly subsidised through the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD).

He said it was unfortunate as livestock farmers were partly subsidised in buying vaccines and livestock feed.

“Government will start with an arable farmer by tilling the soil, ploughing, adding fertilisers, weeding and will only part ways on the day of harvest,” said Mr Mangope.

He appealed to government to consider improving its assistance rendered to livestock farmers.

Ms Tshireletso, who is also Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East, informed residents of Pallaroad, Mookane and Mmaphashalala at her ongoing kgotla meetings that government has declared 2017/18 a drought year.

She said a subsidy of 25 per cent which started on December 1 2018 to March 31 2019 would provide livestock feeds, vaccines and drugs at a cost of  P54 million.

She said as part of efforts to transform the beef  industry, Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) was undergoing restructuring with the goal of privatising. 

She said the training of farmers, herdsmen and extension staff would also be done to improve beef production in the country.

Ms Tshireletso said in an effort to increase food production, government would continue to assist arable farmers, including horticultural farmers through ISPAAD.

She noted that during the 2017/18 ploughing season, 62 646 arable farmers cultivated 268 530 hectares. ENDS