01 Dec 2020

 Batswana have been encouraged to venture into small stock farming, not only to enrich themselves, but to also diversify the economy. To give impetus to the process, the President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has been donating bucks and rams to some small stock farmers to bolster efforts to grow the sub-sector. 

This is hoped would not only improve the quality of small stock produced in the country, but to also ignite interest in the sub-sector, as well help meet the local demand and identified external markets, ultimately leading to local food security, citizen empowerment and economic diversification. 

In an interview with BOPA, Senior Scientific Officer in the Ministry of Agricultural Development & Food Security, Small stock Section, Mr Patrick Galekgathege indicated that there were a number of opportunities in the sector. He cited high demand for small stock meat, which was driven by an increase in worldwide consumption of chevon (goat meat) due to its nutritional attributes in comparison to red meat from other species.

He explained that goat meat was low in total fat, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol content, therefore it was preferable to health conscious customers.

“Opportunities for business also exist in fodder production, mainly because we import a large proportion of livestock feed from South Africa and Zambia,” he said. However, Mr Galekgathege indicated that a comprehensive fodder strategy that would receive funding from government, was being developed.

He also pointed out that there was willingness from various financial institutions such as CEDA, NDB, commercial banks and government, to support investment in sheep and goat production. 

Mr Galekgathege indicated that local demand for chevon was estimated at 1 700 tonnes, (dead weight) annually, which was equivalent to 77 000 goat carcasses, while the demand for lamb and mutton stood at 550 tonnes equivalent to 25 000 sheep carcasses annually.  

He further highlighted that a total of 25 000 goats and 15 000 sheep were slaughtered in 2019/2020, with estimates indicating a revenue generation of approximately P22 million from chevon and P13.2 million generated by lamb.  

If the industry could meet the local demand, he said, they estimated wholesale value of chevon at P68 million and lamb at P22 million, adding that based on the current production, there was a deficit in both commodities. 

Mr Galekgathege pointed out that producing for export would require efficiency in production in order to meet the demand. He indicated that price increase for sheep and goats locally, would be a motivating factor to increase supply.

He highlighted that the economic contribution of the small stock at household level was estimated at P35.2 million and P52-69.5 million at national level. 

He said that despite challenges of recurring   droughts and low productivity, small stock remained a viable option for employment creation for unskilled and semi-skilled people, as well as for poverty alleviation. 

Mr Galekgathege said there were a number of challenges in small stock production such as low productivity, lack of commitment by some farmers, lack of marketing infrastructure as well as lack of a small stock policy and strategy to guide development of the sub-sector.

However, he indicated that government had released funding to develop a small stock cluster strategy, through the Cluster Reinforcement Initiative methodology. He said the methodology was extended to the small stock sub-sector after the completion of Beef Cluster Strategy in 2019. 

He said productivity challenges were attributable to low levels of management practices, diseases, parasites incidences, inadequate nutrition, more especially during the dry season or drought periods, poor breeding practices and inadequate extension coverage. 

He highlighted that high cost of inputs such as feeds and seasonality of feeds, medicines and fuel, were the main challenges in livestock production.

According to the President of Small Stock Industry Federation, Dr Ontiretse Tau opportunities in small stock were innumerable. 

 She highlighted that all small stock products were yet to be explored and exploited by farmers such as sale of live animals, breeding quality breeds, processed meat products and other by-products such as skins, milk and its products (cheeses, yoghurts, chocolate and sweets).

Other opportunities, Dr Tau said were transportation, feeds production, mutton/chevon outlets, slaughter facilities, provision of health services and products, provision of equipment such as feeding and drinking troughs, artificial insemination and embryo transplant, as well as animal tracking devices.

She indicated that a number of factors hindered growth of the industry, such as lack of management skills, poor quality animals and conflicting government policies as some of the challenges in small stock production.

 Others included access to farm land, water, electricity as well as capital, which she said was the greatest limiting factor. 

“Farmers have good ideas of how to improve their enterprises, but do not have the means to realise those dreams,” she added. 

Dr Tau cited the one goat per hectare yardstick, which does not take into consideration intensive farming, used by CEDA to assess small stock financial assistance, as an example of conflicting government policies.

“Most small stock farmers do not have that kind of land, as such, they do not stand to benefit from the micro-landing facility for Batswana,” she added. 

Regarding identified international markets, Dr Tau noted that they were in the process compiling the number of sheep and goats owned by members of their affiliates, which would give them an indication of the current situation in terms of the volume they could generate. 

She said they encourage associations to form cooperatives to improve management and to increase the numbers of sheep and goats.

Dr Tau also pointed out that they planned to negotiate with lending facilities such as CEDA to review their policies to make it easier for small stock farmers, who wanted to practice intensive or organic farming, to access loans. 

She encouraged those in the industry and those willing to venture into it to go for quality animals, think outside the box of what business venture to embark on, that could add value to the small stock industry and to consider joint ventures.

She further said the gesture by the President was a precursor to better things to come, adding that clustering of small stock, led by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security was also a step in the right direction. ends