27 May 2024

Young farmers in Serowe are hard at work engineering a way into the minds of young aspiring livestock farmers.

They are painting a picture of a modern, agro-tech savvy young farmer who ekes a living out of livestock rearing whilst creating opportunities for others.

They pray that this picture stays etched in the minds of young people, indelible.

The young farmers are actually swaying fellow youths into pastoralism while dispelling long-standing myths surrounding youth and livestock farming. They also coin livestock farming as a currency that young people should make fashionable.

This was during Serowe Youth Livestock Farmers' Day on Saturday, where aspirants were treated to some embryo transplant and artificial insemination demonstrations whilst also encouraged with success stories of the likes of Mr Willie O'Brien of Simmentaller South Africa.

While presenting farming as a beacon of hope for young people against unemployment, these young farmers implore the youth to jump into the livestock fast-moving train to acquire resources and create opportunities for others in the value chain.

They are buoyed by government's support for the agriculture sector with various agric-specific programmes and funding opportunities, which President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi assured the youth farmers of, together with government's commitment to supporting young framers with infrastructure such as Internet and network coverage at the production areas to aid technologically-driven farming.

The youth are now pumped up and eager to take up the opportunities in agriculture. 

They are convinced and speak in consonance. 

Their dream is to touch minds, hearts and souls of fellow young people and entice them into livestock farming.

“This is a national project. We are developing a mentorship programme as well as workshops that we will roll out across the country in order to reach as many aspiring and young livestock farmers as we possibly can,” marketing and public relations officer for Youth Livestock Farmers’ Day, Mr Kabelo Letlhare said in an interview following 'the successful opening day’.

“Maybe in a year or two we can expand to the whole of the SADC region,” Mr Letlhare added, revealing that his team was intending to attract more international guests and collaborators.International guests and collaborators would add into a list of stakeholders such as Botswana Meat Commission, Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency as well as celebrated international young farmers in the likes of Mr Thabo Dithakgwe of South Africa.

The Youth Livestock Farmers' Day was birthed following  inquisitions by some youths who sought inspiration and mentorship from one of the successful organisers, Mr Thuso Letlhare, whose father is a revered cattle farmer.

At 26, Thuso has drawn admiration from his peers. Together with other young farmers such as Ms Kushatha Moesi, they brainstormed the idea in November last year. 

Although the event targeted the youth, experienced farmers were a key ingredient in the success of the event, according to Ms Moesi.

“It is your wisdom and guidance that we seek to reach our collective vision in this industry,” Ms Moesi said about seasoned farmers gracing their occasion.

“New ideas are generally treated with suspicion and resistance by stakeholders, but luckily for us, the President acceded to our invitation three weeks after writing to him. This motivated a lot of stakeholders to be party to this day,” said the marketing officer.

Speaking during the event, Mr Letlhare, who is chairperson of the youth livestock farmers, said modern farming techniques, precision agriculture and sustainable practices opened up new avenues for growth and success in an era where innovation and technology were reshaping every industry.

While viewing the event as a beacon of inspiration and catalyst for growth, Mr Letlhare conceded that the challenges were many, yet with great rewards.

Meanwhile, exhibitors at the day found the show beneficial to their courses.

Mr Matshwenyego Mooketsi of Maths Mex Boer Goats from Marobela expressed interest in Thuo Letlotlo to increase his flock.

Although he was invited at the eleventh hour, Mr Mooketsi pulled all stops to show up and the effort did pay off as his billy goats fetched him P35 000.

Another exhibitor, Ms Minkie Morake of Tshoswane Farm near Mmashoro said, “Generally, the shows are beneficial because they're more on Batswana appreciating what others are doing, and obviously getting more information on how things are done.” 

She added that attendees ended up purchasing animals in exhibition.Ms Morake said ever since she learned about embryo transplanting and artificial insemination, she ceased buying breeding stock from South Africa, as was the case when she started. 

She has since resorted to the cost-effective breeding methods, thanks to such events as the Serowe Young Farmers' Day. ENDS