11 Jul 2021

Ms Toziba Masalila, the founder and manager of Masalila’s Farm, an integrated farm venture which sits on the outskirts of Tati Siding, is happy with the progress that she has made since she introduced goat-rearing with just over 10 British Alpine dairy goats.

Briefing the Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food security Ms Beauty Manake during a tour of her farm on Friday, Ms Masalila said she decided to engage in integrated farming so that she explored the potential of the different sub-sectors of agriculture.

With a view to improve her breed so as to reach out to a wider market, she said she introduced the Kalahari Red and Boer male goats and this had paid off. Although she started off with a few dairy goats, Ms Masalila currently has over 115 goats and attributes the multiplication rate to low mortality due to periodic vaccination.

Ms Masalila explained that she was already reaping dividends from her dairy goats as she was presently selling fresh and sour goat milk. Having seen the great potential of the small stock sub-sector, she noted that Masalila’s Farm would work hard towards its dream of penetrating foreign markets with meat, milk and other products.

Masalila’s Farm also features poultry farming and piggery, as well as some arable farming from which Ms Masalila said they had produced 25 bags of maize and 25 bags of sorghum during the past ploughing season.

On the piggery business, she said one of their concerns was the lack of slaughter slabs for pigs in the area.

For her part, Ms Manake said Masalila’s Farm was an important venture in the region, particularly as plans were afoot to re-open the Botswana Meat Commission abattoir in Francistown, where there would be a slaugher facility for goats.

She urged small stock farmers to collaborate and assist one another so as to improve their goat species. Ms Manake further appreciated the proximity of Impala Training Centre to Masalila’s Farm and encouraged her to utilise its services in order to enhance production at her farm.

Francistown-based Botswana Investment Trade Centre (BITC) director - Business Services, Mr Gaorekwe Gaorekwe attested that the market for small stock had already been secured. Mr Gaorekwe said Batswana were now alert and ready to start rearing small stock in order to meet market demand. ENDS