13 Dec 2020

Christmas has come early for 56-year-old Mr Vamana Kamutati of Tsokung cattle post in the Okavango constituency who on Friday received a doper ram from President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

 Presenting the gift, President Masisi said it signified both love and government commitment towards achieving the pillars of Vision 2036 which called for prosperity for all.

As the country’s leader and Vision 2036 ambassador, he said he saw it fit to be at the helm of driving the vision hence the donation.

“This donation is meant to demonstrate love towards the Kamutati family who are also making efforts towards achieving Vision 2036,” he said.

The donation, he said, was also meant to close the gap between the poor and the rich.

President Masisi said it was impressive that the family, who  started with only three sheep and a ram, currently owned 82 sheep and 40 goats. 

With profit made from their small stock production, the family has now diversified into cattle farming.

The President urged the beneficiary to take care of the gift and ensure it increased his small stock herd so that he could eventually assist other farmers.

Vision 2036 chief executive officer, Mr Christopher Molomo said Mr Kamutati had proven to be visionary as he started small and was today a renowned farmer.

Earlier, Mr Kamutati thanked the President and his entourage for the donation and assured them that he would look after the ram to ensure it produced expected results. 

In an interview,  the father of six explained that he started with six goats in 2002 and after they multiplied, he sold some and bought three Tswana breed sheep and a ram.

“I continued selling and I exchanged some of them for cattle. I sell to government, individuals and other farmers who want to increase and improve their herds,” he added.

Mr Kamutati said with the assistance of LIMID in 2008, he managed to drill and equip a borehole.

On challenges, he mentioned lack of lucrative market and predators such as fox, hyena and cheetah which terrorised farmers in the area. 

He said predators decimated  his herd of over 100 goats.

For her part, Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake noted that Ngamiland was prone to livestock diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

She said efforts were ongoing to eradicate the disease to ensure farmers benefitted from their livestock. 

Minister Manake said an FMD  unit had been established in Maun to undertake research aimed at  finding other ways of fighting the disease.

She however explained that research would not be limited to FMD alone but would be extended to small stock production and help with securing more markets for beef as well as goat and sheep meat. 

Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga acknowledged that the beneficiary was an enterprising farmer who would ensure that the donation improved his livestock.

The beneficiary, he said, was chairperson of the Chukumuchu area farmers committee which at its recent meeting discussed ways of improving small stock production. Ends