16 Jun 2024

Lobu Smallstock Farm will be subdivided into five portions to improve efficiency and effective land use.

Lobu farm manager, Mr Promise Mahundu told Parliamentary oversight committee on Agriculture, Lands and Housing on Thursday that the farm which covered 10 300 hectares of land had great potential for economic diversification and the plan was to have half of it continue with its current operations as a small stock farm while the other half would be subdivided into an Artificial Insemination (AI) centre and three private small stock farms.

Of the 10 300 hectares, he said 5 400 would be reserved for existing operations of production of high quality breeding stock of goats, sheep and cattle, while 2 822 hectares would be reserved for AI. 

The other portions, he said consisted two 732 hectares and a 557 hectares farm adding that the process was almost complete.

Mr Mahundu said to fulfill their mandate of providing the farming community with quality breeding stock to improve their flock, they faced challenges which needed swift interventions.

He highlighted accommodation shortage for trainers and the need for consistent electricity supply to facilitate online trainings.

He said resources permitting, electricity supply could be backed up by a generator.

Furthermore, the farm manager said that the perimeter fence needed to be replaced since it was old.

Despite the challenges, Mr Mahundu said Lobu had been performing relatively well noting that currently, the farm had 3 422 small stock comprising 2 316 sheep and 1 106 goats, 72 white Brahmans and 27 horses.

However, he said processes linked to auction sales often led to delays thereby translating into increased costs as animals end up being kept for longer periods in the farm. Takatokwane MP, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe noted the concern and stated that there must legislative interventions on public auction sale process, to ensure value for money and benefit to farmers hence the need to audit processes.

He said Lobu needed to be resourced accordingly, to enable it achieve its mandate.

Mr Leuwe said a resident veterinary doctor and backup generator were necessary and also that accommodation facility be attended to urgently.
Gaborone Bonnington South MP Mr Christian Greeff, called for the resuscitation of unused government farms nationwide which he suggested could be leased out to Batswana.

For his part Kgalagadi District Council chairperson, Mr Hendrick Jacobs said auction sales should be held at least three times a year, to improve efficiencies.  He said there should be a special dispensation for local farmers as majority were subsistence farmers who needed the boost to benefit from quality stock produced at Lobu.

He also noted that Lobu was faced with shortage of water and that boreholes must be drilled in the five land subdivisions currently underway at Lobu.

To address water shortage, Kgosi Bothata Botsheleng of Khuis called for resuscitation of a high yield community borehole between Khuis and Lobu which needed to be cleaned and equipped.

He said an arrangement could be made such that the Khuis community and Lobu Smallstock Farm could share the costs to alleviate water shortage and at the same time assist the community to produce vegetables irrigating with water from the borehole.

Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Mr Jacob Momene said together with the ministry of lands, 56 pieces of land reserved for small stock production had  been surveyed and would soon be distributed through a tendering process.

Parliamentary committee chairperson, also Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks said their role was to provide oversight on government projects, noting that the recent launch of Thuo Letlotlo and Temo Letlotlo programmes challenged them to ensure that people were facilitated accordingly.

MP Brooks noted that Lobu should benefit every Motswana hence the need to find solutions to challenges, some of which might require legislative interventions. Ends