14 Jan 2019

Batswana have been implored to venture into smallstock production because it has good turnaround time.

The encouragement came for Acting President Mr Slumber Tsogwane when addressing a  kgotla meeting in Kedia recently.

He said a market for small stock meat could be identified internationally adding that President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi was working round the clock to ensure that happened.

Government, he said, was planning to enhance processes and better standards of producing small stock.

Mr Tsogwane indicated that farmers would be provided with breed suitable for production of meat revealing that Setata Farm in Boteti would be used for piloting small stock production.

He stated that it was important to promote production of animal feed for small stock saying Batswana should be at the forefront of such a venture.

Emphasising the need for value chain processing, the acting president said government also encouraged using small stock products to process bye-products.

The objective, he said, was to enhance quality of business.

Mr Tsogwane said there was need to devise means of boosting  economic growth which he said had declined to 2.3 per cent from 4.3 per cent in 2016..

Mr Tsogwane dismissed as a myth that Batswana did not have the spirit of entrepreneurship adding government stood ready to promote business among the citizenry.

He expressed concern that the economy was not growing at a satisfactory rate which would have a negative impact on employment creation.

On drought, he said adverse climatic changes dictated that drought relief be budgeted for.

Such a budget would be purposely intended to fund businesses producing drought relief products, Mr Tsogwane explained.

He noted that organisations such as CEDA would be encouraged to fund farmers to produce products that could relieve drought such as lucerne.

Meanwhile the Village Development Committee Chairperson Mr Maikutlo Kenosi requested gravelling of the Kedia-Mokobaxane road as well as connection of the village to the national electricity grid.

Mr Kenosi expressed concern over lack of electricity in the village, shortage of public officers’ houses as well as classrooms at the primary school. He also called for expansion of Kedia Health Post.

Commenting, the Senior Assistant Council Secretary Mr Onthatile Molelu said P1 million had been allocated for maintenance of the Kedia RADS hostel.

Roads official Mr Unabatsho Matenge said Kedia-Mokobaxane road was included in the 2019/2020 budget while health official Ms Batho Rampana said there were no funds budgeted for Kedia health post expansion. ENDS