26 May 2021

Ms Lentswenyana Rankgono of Gakgolomo Lands, near Lotlhakane West is living testimony of the success of President’s small stock initiative.

Ms Rankgono, who started with only 12 female goats and a buck in 2015, which she obtained through Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) Programme, now boasts of 78 goats and 11 sheep.

In October last year, she was second time lucky as she received a Kalahari Red Buck from President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi to improve her herd. Now, approximately seven months later, 50 of her goats are pregnant by the Kalahari Red Buck, while six have given birth, one of which had twins, but unfortunately three kids died and she was left with four.

Ms Rankgono told BOPA in an interview on Tuesday, that said the mortality rate in the first batch of kidding was a learning curve and she would do everything in her power to ensure all the 50 expected kids survive.  

She noted that her small stock project was progressing well, with advantages outweighing challenges.

She said the President encouraged her to plough forage for her small stock to augment the nutritional value of grazing, and she now ploughs sunflower and maize, which she mixes to make fodder.

The President’s small stock initiative, she said creates a platform for economic growth and possibility of reducing the hefty import bill, adding that the small stock sub-sector was a ‘diamond’, which needed to be harnessed and polished for economic diversification and job creation.

Ms Rankgono shared that she sold 25 goats to the LIMID programme and fenced a 15-hectare field, bought timbers as well as pay the person to do the fence from proceeds.

She revealed that she also used her small stock to contribute during weddings, funerals and other social events, and ploughs proceeds back into the business by buying supplements and medication for the livestock.

She hailed the initiative for changing the economic landscape of her family, revealing  that she was also able to give her four-bedroomed house in Kanye a facelift, from the small stock proceeds.

Ms Rankgono opined that the buck donated by the President would go a long way in helping to improve the quality of her small stock, adding that three of the offspring were male and one was female.

She said that some people had already booked the male ones, as they want to nurture them to be bucks, adding that in two years’ time, the project would be at its pinnacle given that a goat brings forth an offspring twice a year.

She said that on its own, should send a loud message to Batswana that the President’s small stock initiative, if put to good use, can turnaround the country’s economic fortunes.

Ms Rankgono said small stock production needed perseverance, passion and good care for one to optimally benefit from it, noting she was doing everything in her power to optimise output and put the buck to good use.

She said she intended to sell the offspring to improve carcass quality in the periphery and therefore thanked the President once again for the noble gesture.

She said she approached veterinarians to help thwart mortality and ensure the project yields expected results. ENDS