19 Apr 2023

Ngamiland farmers have agreed to sell their cattle in a centralised community kraal in each village.

This was announced at the farmers meeting in Maun on Tuesday where it was explained that cattle would be sold in community kraals henceforth so that all farmers and buyers would convene in one place.

The Umbrella Farmers Committee Chairperson, Mr Lekopanye Ledimo said the new arrangement would allow them to screen cattle in one place hence eliminate irregularities and acts of crime.

He said farmers had been selling their cattle individually to millers who acted as a middle man who would then sell the cattle to abattoirs and butcheries.

This process was porous in that farmers relinquished rights of cattle ownership to millers who had leverage to pricing the cattle anyhow and give a small share to farmers, noted Mr Ledimo

He said in this new arrangement it was agreed that a live cow would be sold at P20 per kilogram.

He highlighted that selling would be done on rotational basis with every village in Ngamiland accorded two days to sell cattle.

Mr Ledimo highlighted that during this market day police officers, veterinary, abattoirs and butcheries and public health departments would be available to assist with screening.

Maun Police station Assistant Superintendent Molefhe Molefhe commended farmers for the decision to sell in one place, noting that this would curb stock theft and ensure efficiency.

He said this development was not new in Botswana as farmers in other parts of the country had been selling their cattle in community kraals for years since 1973.

Ass. Supt Molefhe said in the past BMC used to buy cattle at community kraals.

However he said many abandoned this arrangement due to various reasons  such as establishment of  big farms, paddocks and the Foot and Mouth outbreaks.

He said police had registered many cases where millers and farmers were in conflict due to the fact that farmers surrendered ownership of their cattle to millers which at times resulted in them being swindled.

He said with a centralised market, and controlled pricing farmers would get value for their cattle as they would be part of the selling process. Furthermore he indicated that this would help fight stock theft in that no cattle would be sold or slaughtered elsewhere but at the community kraal.

He revealed that in 2021 there were 42 cases of stock theft in Sehithwa catchment area with 119 cattle stolen and 99 were recovered.

He said in 2022 there were 35 cases recorded with 57 cattle stolen and all recovered while since beginning 2023 to end of March five cases were registered with 11 cattle stolen.

Ngami Member of Parliament Mr Carter Hikuama praised farmers for reaching an agreement to sell their cattle at a common price adding that due to the free market economy farmers were exploited.

He said it was the prerogative of a farmer to price their cattle like in any other businesses instead of letting millers and abattoirs decide the value of their cattle.

Mr Hikuama said stock theft distorted the pricing of cattle in that thieves did not care about the value of cattle. ENDS