25 May 2023

Diphuduhudu Beef Farmers Association promises to pull a grand show tomorrow when they auction their cattle to the highest bidder at a farmers’ field day which President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected to attend. The field day would be held at Thipakaebaa cattlepost near Diphuduhudu settlement in the Letlhakeng district and Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao as well as as assistant minister, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi are also expected to attend the field day.  

The association chairperson, Mr Masego Phuduhudu said in an interview that the field day was packed with great activities which would kick start today with training sessions on livestock management, BAITS as well as on technologies available in livestock farming. The official programme, he said would start Saturday with the highlight of the day being an auction of more than 60 quality cattle from various members of the association in the afternoon. “We have engaged a professional auctioneer to facilitate the show. The auction is meant to showcase some of the quality breeds for marketing purposes,” he added.

Also, he said the auction aimed to have farmers share and exchange ideas as well as demonstrate to younger generations that there was life in livestock business. 

“As a result, we would donate a bull to an upcoming farmer which would be handed by President Masisi on our behalf on the day,” he said. District animal production officer, Mr Kgotso Oteng said Diphuduhudu cluster had a potential in livestock farming. Mr Oteng said the area, including others in Letlhakeng district, boasted a population of cattle close to 200 000. “Farmers in the area are trying to improve the quality of their herd and have since showed interest in modern farming technologies in order to improve the quality of their herd. 

The only challenge they have is the inability to purchase quality bulls but with the introduction of new farming methods such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semen straws we are adamant that farmers in the area could go far,” he said. ENDS