26 Jun 2022

Farmers in Boteti have appealed for the re-opening of Francistown BMC as a matter of urgency blaming its closure for lack of market access for their cattle.

They Aired their grievances before the parliamentary portfolio committee on agriculture, lands and housing in Letlhakane on Friday.

Mr Ernest Ketshabetswe said closure of the Francistown BMC had negatively impacted on the lives of Boteti people given its proximity, adding that taking cattle to Lobatse BMC was costly and cumbersome.

He attributed the closure to unprofitable cattle prices in the area, adding that many had now resorted to selling to millers or cattle agents who tend to purchase at lower prices.

“As farmers we no longer benefit from cattle sales because of low prices. 

Millers have monopolised cattle market in Boteti, while farmers on the other hand have no choice but to sell to these millers at low prices,” he said.

He also noted that when the Francistown BMC closed, there was never proper consultation of stakeholders such as farmers.

Furthermore, Mr Ketshabetswe complained about the Lobatse BMC turnaround time to pay farmers who sold their cattle.

“When you sell to BMC, they tell you payment will be within 21 days, only for you to wait about three months for payment. 

BMC needs to up its game on this matter,” he said.

Farmers also complained about some species of birds breeding in masses in the Makgadikgadi, which in turn destroyed or fed on sorghum before people could harvest.

Given the terrain, farmers said it was always a challenge to reach the breeding areas to scare away the birds, especially when it had rained.

They also highlighted that shortage of transport at the Department of Crops was also a challenge to reach the breeding area of such birds.

Still on issues that affected the agricultural sector in Boteti, Mr Botsile Mmatakgomo said the region was vast to be manned by only one veterinary officer.

He said because of government setup, these officers were in most instances made administrators, something he said compromised their job to be hands-on as ‘doctors’ to help farmers.

Mr Mmatakgomo said he doubted if stock census was done properly, with suspicion that the numbers of cattle in Boteti were just an assumption based on the number of ear tags purchased. 

He said if that was the case it would be wrong because proper numbers were the ones that determined services brought to a particular region.

Mr Mmatakgomo said if indeed stock census was conducted properly, there would have been decentralisation of all veterinary services, not the current arrangement where services were accessed from Serowe because Boteti had a lot of cattle.

On the issue of shortage of transport, Mr Mmatakgomo suggested that veterinary officers be allowed to use farmers’ vehicles to go and provide service.

All issues were noted for report compilation to be presented before Parliament. ENDS