17 Jun 2024

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi has urged Tobane residents to venture into poultry and fish farming.

Addressing residents recently, Mr Molebatsi said poultry farming was manageable and easy to start, adding that farmers were allowed to keep 200 chickens in their homes, adding that than that should be kept in farms.

He said the Thuo Letlotlo programme allowed farmers to apply for up to P60 0000 without any contribution to start both broiler and layer productions at micro scale level.

He noted that destitute families as well as People Living with Disability, unemployed women and youth were also legible to apply.

He said government, through the programme, aimed to transform the lives of Batswana and enable them to sustain their families and contribute to the economic development of the country. 

“The programme leaves nobody behind, and I encourage you to apply for funding in large numbers,” he said. 

The assistant minister said the programme would go a long way to minimise dependency on government.

Mr Molebatsi, who is also the area MP, said his aim was to make Mmadinare a poultry hub, noting the construction of a poultry abattoir in Seghophe with the capacity to slaughter 1 500 chickens per day.

He said for the abattoir to operate efficiently it needed the support of poultry farmers, and urged them to take advantage of the upcoming abattoir.

Those interested in poultry farming, he said, were required to have a waste management plan, access to reliable and clean water as well as to comply with bio-security measures.

He encouraged Tobane residents to interact and get information from relevant authorities to enhance their business knowledge. 

He said registering with Botswana Animal Identification and Traceability System (BAITS) and having ablutions was also a requirement.

Residents were also encouraged to embark on fish farming to diversify their income streams.

The head of Mmadinare Fish Hatchery, Mr Montshwari Molefe urged residents to take advantage of facilities in their area to venture into fish farming.

He urged them to visit the hatchery to get relevant information on fish farming and Thuo Letlotlo programme. Ends