15 Jun 2020

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security says a beef regulator for Ngamiland farmers is overdue.

  Dr Edwin Dikoloti was addressing different farmers associations on June 14. He said a beef regulator would help determine the price of cattle and market availability.

The minister was responding to farmers’ complaints about private abattoirs. They said they were taking advantage of farmers and paying low prices for their cattle.

On horticultural farmers, Dr Dikoloti urged them to attract more members to the association in order to have more voice.

He said it was time for horticultural farmers to find alternative water sources and avoid relying on rivers which got dry during the winter season. 

He said horticultural famers should advocate for the drilling of boreholes in order to have reliable water supply.

On the other hand, the minister encouraged poultry farmers to affiliate with Botswana Poultry Association.

He added that poultry farmers should also ensure that they benefited from government through the sale of their products.

Dr Dikoloti noted that there were many opportunities in the agricultural sector in Ngamiland, adding that it required  farmers to commercialise.

He also said the country needed an agricultural bank which would appreciate their challenges and assist them accordingly.

He added that challenges such as human-wildlife conflict and the buffalo fence could be changed by farmers through relevant policies.

Member of Parliament for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama also urged farmers to form associations that would influence government.

Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile argued that horticulture should be reserved for locals only.

Mr Kekgonegile also supported the establishment of a beef regulator, saying it would assist beef farmers, Botswana Meat Commission and private abattoirs.

A cattle farmer, Mr Frank Mafela, representing Ngamiland Farmers Committees, said beef farmers needed standard prices owing to fluctuating prices by private abattoirs. Ends