23 Jun 2022

Dilapidated cordon fences separating Boteti and game reserves are said to be a major setback for gainful agricultural activities in the region.

This emerged during a workshop conducted by the parliamentary portfolio committee on agriculture, lands and housing in Rakops on Wednesday where people decried human-wildlife conflict.

Farmers therefore, suggested that fences that separated Boteti and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve as well as Makgadikgadi National Park be electrified to minimise wildlife encroachment into human settlements.

They also pleaded for regular maintenance and patrolling of cordon fences such as that of the Mokoboxane-Makalamabedi.

Mr Ditsheko Ramakura said failure to maintain fences resulted in uncontrolled movement of animals from Ngamiland to Boteti, hence posing the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease spread.

On the issue of human-wildlife conflict, Ms Bashingi Boingotlo said every ploughing season, elephants destroyed crops while compensation for such was very low and always delayed.

She therefore, suggested that government should consider a higher compensation amount for both crop destruction and killing of livestock by wild animals.

Ms Bridget Gaka said repairing  destroyed field fences was expensive and suggested that government should consider extending the cluster fencing programme to individuals.

Another burning issues was that of sale of ear tags which are sold on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

Mr Ditsheko Ramakura expressed dissatisfaction over the system, which he said was always down when farmers wanted to purchase ear tags.

He noted that some people travelled long distances as far as Makalamabedi only to find the system down.

He said selling the tags on Tuesdays and Thursdays only was  an inconvenience to many  hence he suggested that service providers should reconsider the issue. Residents also decried lack of access to water, which they said they needed for agricultural activities. Mr Kgomotso Matsiara said they should be given water rights for Boteti River and be allowed to have boreholes along the river.

Responding to some of the grievances, service providers cited budgetary constraints as a hindrance to prompt and efficient service delivery.

Chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on agriculture, lands and housing, Mr Mephato Reatile assured Boteti people that all issues raised at the workshop were noted and a report would be presented to Parliament. ENDs