04 May 2022

Small stock production has the potential to promote food security and boost the economy.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi was speaking during a tour of Lobu farm  recently.

He said even though small stock production has not been doing well of late, the establishment of small stock centre would improve  the sector.

Mr Molebatsi therefore, implored farmers to utilise agricultural institutions around the country to the maximum for greater benefits.

Kgalagadi District agricultural coordinator, Ms Ikgopoleng Shabane, said  that the centre was fully operational despite staff shortage, adding that they have a complement of 42 personnel and rely on temporary staff to augment the shortage. She therefore, requested that they be facilitated with more staff for smooth operation of the farm.

Lobu farm manager, Mr Geoffrey Balogi said the centre was resuscitated following the sitting of the Rural Development Council (RDC) held in 2017.

Mr Balogi said the centre became functional in 2018 and currently has the carrying capacity of 2 602 being goats, sheep, cattle and horses.

He said after resuscitating the farm, small stock breeds like boer goats, dorpers, damara, meat masters’, savanna and sienna were procured from South Africa and Namibia to help improve small stock production as well as to assist in facilitation of penetrating the international markets just like the beef sector.

He said the centre also conducted short trainings to sharpen farmers’ knowledge so that they could also apply what they learnt from in their free range farms as well or ranches.

He said production indicators included, calving, 84.2 per cent, kidding 168, lambing 117, cattle mortality 5.7 per cent, goats’ mortality 6.2 per cent and sheep mortality 4.4  per cent.

Mr Balogi further said the centre production parameters indicated that they were performing well after reducing highest goats’ mortality of 18 per cent to 6.2 per cent.

He also noted that they were faced with challenges of predators and shortage of water.

He decried low intake of learners due to lack of adequate accommodation following the structural defects of the hostel awaiting maintenance. Ends