20 Jun 2022

Voorslag Boteti Agricultural and Mining Exposition slated for June 22 to 25 in Letlhakane, promises to leave an indelible mark among farmers, mining companies and the business community.

Previously known as Voorslag Boteti Agricultural Show, the expo has grown and will this year, for the first time since it came into being in 2014, include mining.

Explaining the reason for incorporating the mining sector,  the show’s operations manager, Mr Enock Lindi said it was because they were part and parcel of the community

Mr Lindi told BOPA that when it started, the event was only as a farmer’s information day but had now grown into a fully fledged agricultural show known internationally, a move that challenged farmers to improve their breeds.

This year, more than 400 goats are expected for exhibition and auction and 80 companies have registered for stalls, Mr Lindi said and added that the objective was to promote the agricultural sector and assist farmers develop their breeds.

Among the invitees he said, were suppliers of feeds, drugs, agricultural implements and breeders from different associations.

Mr Lindi said the aim was to educate farmers about available products and how they could be used as well as educate them on how they could prosper in agriculture.

“This is possibly the first significant event and looking at its magnitude, the number of people who have registered, number of breeds and breeders coming in from all corners of the country and internationally, it is going to be massive,” said Mr Lindi encouraging Batswana to attend the expo.

He said the exposition would also accord government departments and parastatals an opportunity to sell their products and services.

The hospitality industry also stands to benefit and already, most of the hotels and lodges in Boteti are fully booked for all days of the exposition.

A local farmer, Mr Bobby Lekgaba who has already brought in his boer goats for the exhibition said competition was expected to be high.

Mr Lekgaba said organisers had engaged judges from outside the country for this year’s competition.

He said he brought different stock this time around.

He said there were certain features that judged looked for in an animal such as the uniqueness of the head, good shape and the shape of the horns.

A female goat, he said, should be feminine in shape and should have a curvaceous body with a slim neck and wide bottom. ENDs