02 Apr 2023

Exploiting value chain opportunities in the agricultural sector has a potential to diversify the economy and create employment, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare has said.

Speaking at the Southern District Beef Farmers Association Field Day at Naledi farms on Friday, Mr Gare underscored the need to unpack the beef value chains to contribute towards moving the national economy from mineral-based, thereby creating job opportunities for Batswana. 

The event was held under the theme: Increasing the National Herd, Unpacking the Beef Value Chain.

“We have realised that there is a gap in the market. In Agriculture we have a lot of products that we sell as raw materials instead of processing them from farm to fork. We could create value chains if we could start processing our products,” he said.

The minister said there was need to build strong food systems to satisfy the agri-business market both locally and internationally. 

He noted that such systems should be profitable and sustainable to transform the country from a government-led economy and sustain people beyond the diamond mining era.

Subsequently, he implored the Southern District Beef Farmers Association to strive for growth both in increasing cattle herd and enhancing quality production. He appreciated the contribution by the President’s bull donation initiative towards improving the quality of cattle across the country.

“Cattle herd in the country is slowly declining, hence we should find means of increasing it. We should also commend His Excellency the President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi as he continues to donate bulls nationally,” he said.

Minister Gare said farmers should be equipped with relevant knowledge intended to transform farming into a commercial business. He also emphasised the importance of unity in farming, as described by the Setswana saying ‘moroto wa o esi ga o ele’.

For his part, Jwaneng mine assistant general manager, Mr Goitseone Gadifele implored farmers to combine indigenous knowledge with new technology for enhanced production. He said adopting modern technologies could also increase opportunities created by the value chain in the agricultural sector.

“Be receptive of new reproductive technologies, particularly the artificial and embryo insemination types. The technology revolution is upon us, strategically combined with our indigenous knowledge, we are sure set for benchmark performance,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Gadifele called on farmers to upgrade their farm infrastructure to match the international markets standards. 

He said this would go a long way in establishing them as a reference point to others in the region, while at the same time creating a conducive environment for possible partnerships with other stakeholders in the sector.

CEDA CEO, Mr Thabo Thamane stressed the need for mindset change in order to increase the national head, which he observed was declining. 

He said poor farm management was one of the factors that contributed to the decline in the national head.

“Let’s make farming fashionable by changing our mindsets and also developing good business ideas and plans to access funding,” he said.

He urged farmers to adopt best record keeping practices not only to track their transactions, but also to make it easier for financiers to appreciate them. ends