07 Mar 2022

Farmers have been urged to unite in order to effectively address their challenges.

When launching the newly registered Gasita/Lerolwane Farmer’s Association, which is planned to address challenges affecting farmers in the area, the MP for Mmathethe/Molapowabojang, Dr Edwin Dikoloti underscored the need for farmers to work together as a collective.

Dr Dikoloti highlighted that the biggest challenge that farmers faced, when it came to influencing policy, had always been not presenting a unified front.

He said as there were many facets in agriculture varying from one part of the country to the other, that is why it was often difficult for farmers to all find themselves on the same side of an issue.

He, therefore, commended the founders of Gasita/Lerolwane Farmers Association for their dedication, saying it would go a long way in ensuring that farmers in that region were better understood.

“Given the importance of farming to us all and the pressures that food producers faced, it is essential that everyone, from the consumer to policy makers and researchers, have a chance to understand the perspectives and hear the opinions of those in the frontline of farming,” he stressed.

Dr Dikoloti said much still needed to be done by the association, adding that his desire was to have Gasita/Lorolwane being a research hub, where academia could conduct their studies.

“We have to direct our goals to re-defining the definition of a cattlepost, its significance in contributing towards food production,” he said.

He, therefore, implored more to join the association, saying a lot could be achieved through their participation.

Dr Dikoloti said he was pleased that in the ongoing Presidential Commission of Inquiry for the Review of the Constitution, Batswana were expressing their concerns about stock theft, adding that such grievances could be overcome if all could unite.

“Government remains steadfast in pursuing cases of stock theft  and further ensuring that such was eliminated at all cost. However, we can only manage if we come together as a collective,” he said.

Dr Dikoloti said when fully functional, the association would go a long in identifying dishonest farmers, closing down market for stolen cattle, and ensuring that farmers were aware of the cattle being ferried and their destinations.

He advised the association to consider registering for corporate membership, as such could also assist them in acquiring capital needed for the day to day running of the association.

He further advised that they should consider acquiring funds from the Green Climate Funds provided by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

Dr Dikoloti also urged them to partner with Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, by enrolling for some short courses it offered.

For his part, the interim chairperson, Professor Keitseope Nthomang noted that the long awaited association was the start of a transformation programme in response to the challenges that had been faced by farmers in the area.

He said the association was formed after struggling with the invasion of the wildebeest in their area, which caused the outbreak and spread of Bovine Malignant Catarrhal disease.

Prof. Nthomang noted that due to the outbreak, farmers in the area lost a considerable number of cattle, which made them realise that they were not united, as there was no focal person to address the issue in consultation with the government.

He said being individualistic resulted in low involvement of farmers in the policy-making process, which in turn led to poor provision of extension services.

“This does not only affect the agricultural development aspirations of the country, but fails to meet the food security and livelihood of our people,” he said.

Prof. Nthomang said the association sought to provide an opportunity to all aspects of the sector, including breeds, equipment, remedies, feed and further expose members to potential markets.

The association will also create a platform for information sharing, he noted. ENDS