29 Nov 2020

National Development Bank (NDB) in collaboration with Thari Communications  will on  December 12 hold its inaugural small stock exposition .  

During a press briefing on November 25, NDB CEO, Ms Lorato Morapedi said that expo 2020, which would be in Tlokweng, would bring together various experts within the small stock sub-sector to discuss and share ideas around improving the sub-sector. 

Ms Morapedi said guided by a three-year Letsema strategy 2019-2022, which aimed at positioning the bank as the go to agric bank that contributed to the economic development of the country,  they decided to focus on food security, employment creation as well as the development of small Medium Enterprise (SME’s). 

She highlighted that the areas were key in realising the nation’s aspirations of achieving economic diversification and thus reducing over-reliance on diamonds export and Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenues and ultimately positioning the country to be an export-led economy.   

Ms Morapedi indicated that NDB also launched a campaign themed: # feed the nation, focusing on five key niche sectors being arable farming, horticulture, beef, small stock and poultry. 

She emphasised that NDB promoted the use of smart farming practices as well as partnerships hence collaboration with Thari Communications. 

She highlighted that Letsema strategy further emphasised the importance of harnessing value across all sub-sector value chain, with the hope to achieve the goal of being able to reduce high import bill which stood at P9 billion annually. 

Ms Morapedi explained that multiple lockdowns due to COVID-19 heightened the need to reduce food import bill.

She said despite having been able to identify good markets for small stock, the numbers of sheep/goats had reduced drastically over the years, adding that during 2015 census the national herd was estimated at 1 260 000 goats and 2 650 000 sheep and the numbers were reducing yearly hence the need to work with all stakeholders to improve the situation.

For his part, Mr Aobakwe Gofamodimo of Thari Communications urged Batswana to take advantage of services offered by NDB to grow agricultural sector. 

He highlighted that during the event, 10 farmers would bring 10 sheep/goats each which would be auctioned.

Mr Gofamodimo advised farmers to change the way they had been farming, citing ploughing for animals as one of the important factors in smart farming.

He noted that different stakeholders would be in attendance such as feed manufacturers and farm implements suppliers. Ends