06 Mar 2022

Molepolole North MP, Mr Oabile Regoeng says the low output of some sub-sectors in the agriculture industry should be addressed.

Debating the 2022/2023 budget request by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security recently, Mr Regoeng pointed that the annual production of milk, cereal and pork was particularly low compared to the annual national demand.

He expressed concern about report, by agricultural development and food security minister, Mr Karabo Gare, that the country was producing only 7.3 million litres of milk against the 65 million litres annual demand.

Mr Regoeng said the deficit of 57.7 million litres was huge.

“In the Estimates of Expenditure from the Consolidated and Development Fund report of 2020/2021 the minister promised, as a key performance for this financial year, that milk production would be increased by eight million litres,” he said.

He added that he was equally concerned about cereal production as shown by the deficit of 183 000 tonnes against the 300 000 tonnes annual national requirements for sorghum production.

He further said he was concerned by the low output of piggery production. He therefore called on the ministry to focus more on outputs than money invested into the agriculture sector to close the production deficits in various sub-sectors.

Serowe South MP, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe suggested to the minister to consider incorporating the bucks and rams distribution initiative, by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, as a programme under the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security.

On milk production, Mr Mathoothe expressed concern about lack of rehabilitation of Serowe Milk Processing Plant.

“We were told in 2020 that it was one of the plants which would be rehabilitated, but nothing has been done up to now,” he said.

He welcomed the promise made by the minister that farmers would be sold dairy cattle semen at subsidised prices as an effort to increase milk production.

Lerala/Maunatlala MP, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele asked the ministry to unbundle the 250 hectares Lotsane Irrigation Scheme in Maunatlala.

He said a lot of job opportunities could be derived from the unbundling of the scheme.

“There are so many value chain opportunities we are losing at the moment and I plead with the minister that we should unbundle this one to realise a return on investment,” he said.

Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane asked the minister to speed up the implementation of mobile artificial insemination. He said taking artificial insemination services to ranches and kraals would reduce expenses incurred by farmers seeking such services.

He also asked the ministry to develop more pig slaughter houses to cater for farmers in rural areas.

He said pig farmers incurred a lot of costs to access slaughter houses which were few at the moment.

Takatokwane MP, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe asked the minister to provide enough agriculture extension workers in his constituency.

He said agriculture would flourish with adequate support from extension workers.

Ghanzi South MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai asked the minister to introduce a bull subsidy programme to help farmers improve their cattle breed.

He also asked for improvement of road infrastructure in the Ghanzi district.

Responding to concerns raised by MPs, Minister Gare agreed that provision of enough extension officers was important for agriculture sector to perform well.

He said the ministry was trying its best to have adequate extension officers in villages.

He admitted that the ministry had failed to reach targets set for annual milk production. He said the ministry would however continue pushing to increase production of milk.

“Funds permitting we would consider the advice to assist farmers with mobile artificial insemination services,” Mr Gare said in response to the calls for mobile artificial insemination. Ends