18 Oct 2019

 Leather Industry Park coordinator, Mr Lesitamang Paya, says farmers are critical to establishment of Lobatse leather park.

Speaking at a leather park seminar in Maun on Wednesday, Mr Paya said the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) had realised the need to involve farmers to ensure sustenance of the leather industry.

He noted that cattle, fodder and small stock farmers were central to the leather production and value chain.

“The best way to grow the leather industry in Botswana is to practice good livestock management such as pasture improvement, managing grazing areas and development of production schedule,” he said.

Mr Paya said shortage of water was one of the main challenges hindering inception of the leather park industry, adding that the park required about two million litres of water daily.

Nonetheless, he said the plan was to have ponds to augment water supply, which would also require water treatment facilities.

Mr Paya said the other challenge was lack of leather collection centres across the country to ensure continuous process of leather, saying Lobatse only provided about half of the required leather.

He, therefore, said the plan was to have hide collection centers in places such as Maun, Francistown, Palapye and Kang.

Mr Paya also said they would give farmers an opportunity to buy leather from the leather park so that they could turn it into finished products, which they could sell in their communities in order to make profit and attract customers.

He also encouraged leather workers in Ngamiland to practice crocodile farming because crocodiles have quality leather, which could attract a lot of investors into their region.

For his part, the Maun LEA branch business executive, Mr Outlwile Ebutswe noted that the mandate of their organisation was to empower entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses hence the need to facilitate those in the leather industry with necessary skills and knowledge regarding leather production.

Mr Ebutswe also pointed out that there was need for entrepreneurs to produce quality leather products in order to attract foreign investors.

He noted that LEA offered a two-year incubation project aimed at facilitating leather workers with relevant skills regarding their profession.

“We will also offer some courses such as sales and marketing, business planning, record keeping, entrepreneurship and development training for those who are willing to pursue their career in the leather industry as they are necessary in the development of their businesses,” he said. ENDS