15 May 2023

Residents of Dikgongditshweu farms in the outskirt of Bothatogo have been implored to take advantage of the agricultural schemes and initiatives in place to improve livestock production.

Member of Parliament for Ngami Constituency, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama made the call during a kgotla meeting saying initiatives such as Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) had a lot to offer.

He also encouraged residents to form syndicates to benefit from some of the components of the programme and appreciated that the programme resourced poor households with small stock, guinea fowl and Tswana chickens.

Other components of the programme included borehole equipping and drilling water reticulation, crushes, ramps as well as cooperative poultry abattoirs.

Mr Hikuama further said reports had indicated that the majority of women participated in LIMID as compared to their counterparts and encouraged men and youth to come on board as the programme aims to empower them.

He said agriculture was the backbone of the Ngamiland community and urged residents to retrace their roots and revive the sector.

“As a farming community, I call you to exploit these schemes and consider commercialsing your production. This programme will help you to become self-reliant and contribute to the growth of the economy,” he added.

Residents were urged to avoid being classified under the destitute programme as there were many programmes which they could tap into to eradicate poverty. 

They were also appraised on the proposed Botswana Meat Industry Regulation Bill of 2022 which aims to establish a meat regulation body that would focus on determining livestock pricing.

However, he urged the farming community to join the farmers’ association so that they could speak with one voice when engaged on the bill.

For their part, residents appreciated the LIMID programme but said the requirements were steep for them. 

The programme, they said benefited young people but many abused it as they had no interest in farming.

Residents wished the programme could be revisited to ensure it benefits elders who were passionate about pastoral farming. 

They also noted the human-wildlife conflict as some of the challenges they faced in their quest to improve their livestock production.

Kgosi Tjihuze Munduu said they were trying to invest in agriculture but their efforts were frustrated by elephants which destroyed private property while predators fed on livestock.

“These animals cause serious damage to our infrastructure such as boreholes pipelines and we cannot move freely to collect animals because of wildlife species that are posing danger to our lives,” he added.

To address the situation, he called on the government to consider replacing what the elephants had destroyed as compensation was inadequate to cover all the costs.

Mr Petrus Mateyise talked of the increased livestock theft in the area and said criminals seemed to be having a field day with smallstock supplied to beneficiaries through the LIMID programme. ends