23 Oct 2022

In line with its pledge to give the agricultural sector the support it needed to ensure achievement of food security,  government has decided to avail land for the development of the small-stock industry.

The initiative is an addition to the beef and small-stock cluster strategies meant to address the declining livestock population over the years. 

President Masisi noted that the cattle population stood at 2.1 million, goats at 1.2 million and sheep at 270 000.

“The numbers continue to decline due to various reasons including, but not limited to, poor animal husbandry practices which lead to low productivity," he said.

He said the strategies were also aimed at improving the competitiveness of the sectors as well as unlocking the value chain linkages and promoting market access.

 President Masisi said another initiative, the presidential buck, ram and bull donation schemes were intended to encourage farmers to adopt good animal husbandry practices in order to improve both livestock quality and quantity.

 “I am happy to report that the initiatives have started to bear fruit for beneficiaries across the country,” he saidAddressing himself to the theme, Enabling food security through profitable communal farming practices, President Masisi said it called upon producers across the agricultural sector to work towards treating agriculture as a business.

“Such an attitude demands that farmers be willing to take risks or a leap of faith of embracing and adopting innovations which have been tested elsewhere and found to produce better harvest or calving,” he said.

The President said the show was held when the world was experiencing unprecedented hikes in food prices which had escalated the country’s import bill to over P8 billion per annum.

In line with its pledge to give the agricultural sector the support it needed to ensure achievement of food security,  government has decided to avail land for the development of the small-stock industry.

 Officially opening the 22nd National Agricultural Show in Gaborone on Friday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi urged farmers to take advantage of the initiative. 

The initiative is an addition to the beef and small-stock cluster strategies meant to address the declining livestock population over the years. 

President Masisi noted that the cattle population stood at 2.1 million, goats at 1.2 million and sheep at 270 000.

“The numbers continue to decline due to various reasons including, but not limited to, poor animal husbandry practices which lead to low productivity," he said.

He said the strategies were also aimed at improving the competitiveness of the sectors as well as unlocking the value chain linkages and promoting market access.

 President Masisi said another initiative, the presidential buck, ram and bull donation schemes were intended to encourage farmers to adopt good animal husbandry practices in order to improve both livestock quality and quantity.

 “I am happy to report that the initiatives have started to bear fruit for beneficiaries across the country,” he said.

Addressing himself to the theme, Enabling food security through profitable communal farming practices, President Masisi said it called upon producers across the agricultural sector to work towards treating agriculture as a business.

“Such an attitude demands that farmers be willing to take risks or a leap of faith of embracing and adapting innovations which have been tested elsewhere and found to produce better harvest or calving,” he said.

The President said the show was held when the world was experiencing unprecedented hikes in food prices which had escalated the country’s import bill to over P8 billion per annum.

President Masisi said it was time the nation realised the importance of feeding itself through the concerted efforts of both individuals and as a collective.

He also emphasised that higher productivity and efficiency could be achieved through working together.

President Masisi also noted that climate change and conflicts around the world had affected food production. 

“Conflicts around the world have also made it very difficult to import products such as wheat, sunflower and fertilisers,” he said.

The President  challenged all farmers to adapt to technology and new methodologies to produce food to feed the nation and for export.

President Masisi said government had introduced initiatives to secure the local market and to reduce the country’s reliance on imports. 

He said government promoted market access for local farmers by restricting the importation of 16 types of vegetables for a two-year period. 

The restrictions would enable local producers’ growth to commercial status, he said.

 On the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in north eastern Botswana, he assured farmers that significant amount of resources had been committed to contain it.

In addition, a long-term strategy was being developed which would not only benefit the country but the whole region.

President Masisi challenged the private sector to play the main role in the running of the agricultural show. 

“I am convinced that if the private sector were to play their part, growth in the agricultural sector would improve and its contribution to the economy would become significant,” said President Masisi.

He noted that the show provided a platform for farmers to showcase their livestock as well as with market opportunities. ENDS