08 Aug 2019

Serowe District Trade and Exhibition Show features service providers from different sectors in a bid to shift from agricultural show to a trade show.

The show committee chairperson, Mr Keletso Rakhudu, stated in an interview that the show sought to support government’s efforts of moving away from a resource-bsed economy to a knowledge based one.

Mr Rakhudu said exhibitors had registered in numbers to showcase their products, adding that stalls were priced according to categories.

 ‘’We are appealing to members of the community to own this project by showing support,” he said.

He implored Batswana to exploit the agricultural sector by adopting strategies that could improve and boost food production.

He urged farmers to increase their production to ensure food security.

Mr Rakhudu said farmers should adopt climate smart farming methods that would allow them good yield.

Techno Feeds Company sales manager, who are among the exhibitors, urged farmers to take pre-cautionary measures during the drought season to avoid losing their livestock to harsh climatic  conditions.

Ms Boitshepo Sesupo said during the drought season, farmers were bound to encounter high mortality in their stock, reduced weight gain resulting in unmarketable animals and reduced fertility which affected breeding. 

Other challenges, she said, included water shortage that weakened animals and she encouraged farmers to purchase feed and supplements. 

“Feeds such as drought pellets, VASBYT, energy block, molasses meal, Lucerne, production lick, bull ration help them withstand the harsh grazing conditions the country is currently experiencing,” stated Ms Sesupo. 

Animal feeds had been subsidised to cushion farmers against challenges posed by the dry period.

She said as stock feed manufacturers, their duty was to supply quality cost effective feed to livestock producers. 

‘’In doing so, livestock producers can concentrate on producing quality animal products. This partnership results in better efficiencies within the value chain and improves the quality of the end product significantly,” she stated.

Some prominent commercial farmers who attended the Serowe show also shared the same views as Ms Sesupo, but reckoned that supplements be mixed with grinded crop residues for better results.

“Giving cattle supplements helps them build strong bones and gives them strength to get through the drought season,” they said. 

Providing protein supplements to animals subsisting on the natural pasture is one of the strategies farmers use to address poor forage. ENDS