20 May 2019

Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) general manager, Dr Onkabetse Matlho, has urged women and youth to increase their participation in agriculture because their inclusion  will transform the sector.

He told Kang Farmers Association field day in Khakha Farms near Kang on May 18 that women and youth inclusion in the agriculture sector would be for purposes of job creation and poverty eradication.

He said some people were into agriculture for survival,  hence advising them to move from subsistence to commercial agriculture in order to increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as generate income to improve their livelihoods.

Dr Matlho urged farmers to pay attention to strengthening their information communication technology knowledge in order to familiarise themselves with issues pertaining to accessing finances, technologies, land acquisition and market penetrations.

Moreover, he urged them to form cooperatives and explore the agro-processing value chain business opportunities that he said would help sustain the food markets that were expected to grow to about 8.5 billion in the year 2030 and by 9.5 billion by 2050.

For her part, Kgosi Basadi Seipone lauded Kang Farmers Association for reviving the spirit of farming amongst community members.

She said agriculture used to be the backbone of the country’s economy and said it was important to improve and promote it at all costs for it to reclaim its significance.

Kgosi Seipone also urged farmers in their constituency to practice animal husbandry for them to produce quality breeds that could have good returns in the beef market.

For his part, Kang Farmers Association member, Mr Moagi Bareeleng called for a collaboration between farmers in order to speak with one voice regarding issues that affect farming in their region.

He said they were faced with challenges such as unavailability of vaccines, shortage of land, and inaccessibility of small stock market, veldt fires as well as closure of the Phuduhudu Artificial Insemination Centre.

Ghanzi District agricultural coordinator, Ms Marriam Munamava said the Phuduhudu quarantine because it was severely damaged. 

She said government was working round the clock to resuscitate it so that it could resume operation, adding that the ministry had been faced with challenges to avail vaccines for kwatsi and serotswana to farmers.

She said despite farmers faced with challenges, they should work collaboratively with government to offer support where possible.

On other issues, she encouraged farmers to build proper infrastructures that would protect their livestock from harsh weather conditions. ENDS