18 Aug 2020

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi August 18  donated a Khalahari Red buck and a Doper ram to two Ramokgonami youths as part of his initiative to encourage livestock farmers to feed the nation and close the food security gap.

The two farmers,  both Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) programme beneficiaries, are Ms Dineo Oaitse and Mr Gaolebe Emang.

In his brief speech after the donation, Dr Masisi encouraged Ms Oaitse to take her small stock farming seriously as it was a lucrative business.

“I am giving you this Khalahari Red buck to improve your stock and to encourage you to take your business seriously to generate income and improve your livelihood,” he said.

In the case of Mr Emang, President Masisi advised him to take a good care of his stock and produce more for the market. 

He further urged Mr Emang to desist from practising inbreeding to avoid poor reproductive efficiency.

“This gift is not from government. I am personally giving it to you with love, through the support of business people and other farmers who donate to me after I explain my initiative to support small farmers who are showing great potential. My desire is to see Batswana venture into this business in large numbers, as it has the potential to change livelihoods,” he said.

The President said through the initiative, he wanted to encourage farmers to venture into small stock farming business which had great potential in the market, as markets had been identified in Saudi Arabia and Norway.

Donations have also been made to one farmer in Khakhea and another in Sekoma.

The aim was to donate to promising farmers in all 57 constituencies, President Masisi said.

Giving a brief background of the two beneficiaries, the district agricultural coordinator, Mr Obert Mabutha, said Ms Oaitse began her business in 2014 with 14 goats from LIMID and had so far managed to build a house for herself through the proceeds.

He said Mr Emang had  managed to buy four cattle for himself through the proceeds from nine goats and four sheep he got in 2014 through LIMID.

Mr Emang also built himself a house and bought two donkeys, said Mr Mabutha.

Accepting the donation, Ms Oaitse thanked President Masisi and assured him that she would look after the buck for her stock to continue multiplying.

Mr Emang also promised to grow his venture and become a living testimony that indeed small stock business was lucrative.

In his vote of thanks, Kgosi Kesetse Ramatlakadibe of Ramokgonami thanked President Masisi for the noble gesture and encouraged him to continue the good work.

“May God bless you for your love and support to Batswana small farmers across the country,” he added.

Among the dignitaries that attended the event were assistant ministers Ms Beauty Manake and Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele of Agricultural Development and Food Security and Local Government and Rural Development respectively as well as  Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, agricultural ministry permanent secretary, Mr Jimmy Opelo and Central District commissioner, Mr Rapetse Mathumo.ends