15 Dec 2020

Ngamiland farmers have been urged to form small stock and dairy clusters so that they could easily benefit from available government programmes.

The Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake encouraged farmers during the recent handing over of bucks and doper rams to farmers by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

Through clusters and associations, she said they could speak in one voice. She appealed to political leaders to assist farmers in formation of clusters so that they could access government services as a team and commercialise their projects.

She acknowledged many farmers in Ngamiland who had taken small stock farming seriously and implored them to also venture into feedlots.

Ms Manake revealed that efforts were underway to support and develop both small stock and dairy farming, adding that government had already secured small stock market and soon farmers would be able to sell their produce for good returns.

Interventions to support dairy farming were also critical, she said adding that it was clear that dairy industry was growing slowly despite high demand for milk and milk products.

Ms Manake also revealed that some farmers had already been trained at Lobu farm in the Kgalagadi region, while another group would be drilled on basic animal husbandry at Impala Agricultural Research Centre in Francistown soon.

Lobu farm was established to grow the small stock sector, breed and distribute bucks and rams as well as improve small stock marketing and secure international markets.

Capacity building, she said was important as it would help farmers to fully understand what was required by the market, when to de-worm and how to apply pesticides as well proper management to produce quality meat at the end.

Ms Manake said it was the ministry’s intention to empower farmers and have champions in small stock and dairy farming to ensure food security. 

She also pointed out that her ministry had drilled some boreholes in Sehithwa area to assist farmers with water, adding that they wanted the boreholes to be managed by clusters for the benefit of the farming community. 

Maun East area MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile appreciated the support on small stock production by the President and requested the ministry to continue securing market for farmers.

He said farmers were making efforts to manage their livestock well but some were challenged to access lucrative markets. ends