05 May 2024

In its third year running, the smallstock auction sale that forms part of activities of the Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival is yet to generate interest.

The auction got off to a good start in 2022, with farmers and buyers turning up in numbers, but the second year saw the numbers dropping.

In an interview after the auction on Saturday, Department of Animal Production scientific officer, Ms Lebogang Lotshwao said the number of buyers who graced the auction sale this year was fairly good.

Ms Lotshwao said they still hoped to get more farmers to participate in future editions of the auction sale, saying the 13 farmers who turned up for the auction this year were a far-cry from the numbers that could come.

She was generally content with the effort that farmers had invested in preparing their animals for auction to ensure they were of good quality.

She said a total of 91 animals comprising 45 goats and 46 sheep were brought for auction.

She explained that 28 of the 45 goats were bought during auction.

Ms Lotshwao encouraged women and youth to venture into smallstock farming, which she said was something they could easily manage.

She said government’s commitment to grow the smallstock sector should encourage them, noting that programmes such as LIMID and the recently introduced Thuo Letlotlo were testament of government’s resolve to draw Batswana’s attention to the sub-sector and ensure that they succeeded at it.

Plying his trade in Struizendam, 28-year-old Mr Archie Titus hailed the auction saying it provided a networking opportunity.

A first-time auction participant, he said though not all his 12 animals were bought, he was happy to have established connections with potential buyers.

Mr Titus said the quality of animals that his fellow farmers brought for auction was impressive and gave him assurance that smallstock farming was headed in the right direction.

Mr Lesego Motseosi aged 40, who farms in the Mahalapye area was participating for the first time as a buyer in an auction set-up.

Mr Titus said he was happy with the quality of animals, and added that the reserve prices were also not a deterrent for budding farmers like himself to participate in the auction.

“The auction was okay with good quality animals going for quite reasonable prices. I bought myself two Boer goats, and would have bought more had my budget allowed me to” he said.

The smallstock auction affirmed the Acting President Mr Slumber Tsogwane’ statement at the official opening of the event on Friday that the introduction of additional activities was a sign of its continued growth.

Mr Tsogwane had thus encouraged attendants to contribute to such growth by supporting the different activities staged during the two-day event. ENDS