05 Oct 2023

The stage has since been set for Batswana farmers to benefit from President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s bull donation exercise which he initiated in April last year.

This time, the initiative took us to Masunga where President Masisi gifted bulls to two more farmers, Mr Gabriel Habana from Gulubane in Tati West and Mr Edward Manowe from Ditladi in Tati East during a kgotla meeting he was addressing at the village on Wednesday.

While many had anticipated to witness such an unstinting act by the President, it was however announced that the beasts would be delivered to the deserving farmers after the revised livestock movement protocol which restricted movement of live cloven hoof animals due to the recent incursion of buffalos into Zone 3c, 6a and 6 had been lifted.

After the donation, President Masisi encouraged Messrs Habana and Manowe to aid other farmers in their areas.

He also told the meeting that while the initiative, which started with bucks and rams, was aimed at increasing the declining cattle population, improve livestock production in the country and also boost farmers’ profits, ranchers in the North East should not be limited to only cattle but look into engaging in sheep production because it was also profitable.

The President, who is also the Vision 2036 champion, had since been appluaded for playing his role and living the vision through developing agriculture to be one of the leading contributors to the economy by donating pedigree bulls to Batswana.

Mr Fidelis Molao, the Minister of Agriculture, said because most Batswana were not keen on keeping bulls, such contributed immensely to low calving rate in the country.

Mr Molao encouraged farmers to have a proportionate number of bulls and cows.

“For instance, 25 cows must have a bull while 50 cows should have at least two bulls to increase calving rate by about 80 per cent,” he said.

He also encouraged the two beneficiaries to take care of their bulls and ensure timely vaccinations and dipping. North East District agricultural coordinator, Mr Gwilizani Maposa, said Mr Habana, 71, who was gifted a Brahman bull and Mr Manowe who received a Simmental were chosen because of their commitment to livestock production, coupled with high yield water sources from Shashe Dam.

Mr Habana, who had since engaged in integrated farming, currently has goats, chickens and 90 cattle while Mr Manowe owned 52 cattle, owing to the resolve to support their families.

They both thanked President Masisi for the bulls which they were adamant would improve their cattle production and also benefit other farmers in their neighbourhoods.

Fulfilling his promise to aid other farmers and also as a token of appreciation, Mr Habana donated a heifer to be given to a farmer in Tati East, a region which had been once hard hit by Foot and Mouth disease. Ends