20 Nov 2013

Farmers in the Tati East constituency have been issued with cattle of variable ages of 18 months to four years and the majority of the cattle issued were two years old.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi told Parliament that some of the issued cattle were pregnant and most likely to be calving during the current calving season and the next one. He said the youngest heifers were expected to be ready to be served in the current breeding season and calve in the next calving season on 2014/2015.

He said considering the age of the cattle issued to the farmers, with the youngest heifers expected to be calving in the next calving season, farmers with loans with the financiers are assisted with support letters on one-to-one and need basis. Mr Molebatsi said this has been and continues to be a standing arrangement with the National Development Bank and the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency.

He was answering Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi who had asked the minister whether he was aware that most of the cattle given to residents of Tati East Constituency were still calves and that it will take some years for them to reach the required market age and weight.

He also wanted to know how government will assist residents to repay the loans they got from banks when they purchased their earlier stock and how the minister will assist farmers to survive while awaiting the calves to grow. Ends