26 Aug 2020

 What started as an off the cuff conversation during a farmer’s workshop let to the  birth to a small stock association in Vukwi.

This chat about small stock production planted a seed in the minds of goat farmers who subsequently decided to form a consortium.      

A recruitment plan was put in motion through social media to invite those willing to form part of an association aimed towards goat production business.

In 2018, Litabamoyo Small Stock Association was registered pulling together nine farmers from Vukwi, Gambule, Zwenshambe, Pole, Nshakazhogwe and Nkange villages.

The business model proved that when great minds are put together for a common goal even geographical barrier can be broken. Litabamoyo goat farm is strategically located in Vukwi being the centre of the shareholders localities.

The name Litabamoyo is derived from the Litabamoyo River a boundary between Vukwi and Gambule villages where the goats’ kraals are located.

The association’s chairperson Mr Njalakangwa Nginya stated that all members owned individual kraals but it was a challenge for them to penetrate market as individuals hence the decision to come together.

He said each member contributed shares of P6 000 or six goats as a start up for the business in 2018.

 Mr Nginya highlighted that selling as individuals wasn’t viable in that suppliers expected them to deliver big orders consistently.

Therefore he noted that upon realising that there was shortage of goat meat in Botswana they decided to form the association to seize the opportunity.

As they say the first steps are the hardest, Litabamoyo encountered hurdles at the beginning when they lost 26 of the startup goats.

“Our goats came from different regions as our members are from some from North East and some in Central District and the topography and feed varied from that in Vukwi village.”

However this did not dampen their spirits as they continued to keep a close eye on the remaining stock and ensured they reconditioned well in the following year.

The chairperson indicated that they were hit with yet by another challenge in 2019 as the goats did not multiply due to the adverse drought.

Just as Nido Qubein an American Lebanese-Jordanian businessman and motivational speaker’s words that one’s present circumstances do not determine where they can go, but merely determine where they start, the association’s storms were short-lived as they planned efficiently for 2020 by ploughing part of the leased farm in order to feed the stock.

Mr Nginya said they also bowsed water to the farm to ensure the goats were well fed and watered.

This he said bore fruits as their goats repoduced 42 kids since beginning of 2020.

The association treasurer Mr Royal Metlholo said insufficient water supply was a major challenge for them because they paid large sums for private bowsers to supply them.

However he stated that they had applied for the rights to draw water from one of the boreholes along the Litabamoyo River and were waiting approval.

He highlighted that small stock was a lucrative business in Botswana in that goat meat was in demand adding that government was also a prospective client to buy for its LIMID projects.

 Mr Metlholo highlighted that this year they were focusing only on breeding goats before they could sell to prospective buyers.

The treasurer stated that the COVID-19 outbreak also clipped their wings as they had planned to approach many potential clients and investors.

He further highlighted that the association was currently in dire need of a farming plot in order to expand their business which he said would also eliminate the current leasing charges.

Mr Metlholo said the leased piece of land was small hence they could not plough sufficient stock feed to last them the whole year.

He indicated that currently their goats were free grazing in the forest which he said was risky as there were jackals at the mountains.

The chairperson pleaded with government to meet them half way and allocate them farming land, “We are a passionate group and all we need is support in the form of land and water to help us fulfill our dreams of being farmers of substances. ends