24 Sep 2024

Livestock breeding appears to be one agricultural undertaking where women are in short supply.

Giving a testimonial presentation on: Women’s Participation and Decision Making Power in Livestock Breeding, at the inaugural Botswana Livestock Breeders Conference in Gaborone on Friday, Ms Kushatha Moesi of Moruakgomo Incorporated said focus should be more on what women were doing and not be concerned by why they were less in other sectors of the economy.

“I know a lot of women who are engaged in livestock production. I know a lot of women who are cattle breeders. I am one of them based in Mmashoro,” said Ms Moesi aged 28. 

She said she was attracted to farming after realising that it was a lucrative business.

Moesi said she grew up in the livestock breeding business and after realising how lucrative it was, she never looked back.

She said her presentation was also meant to show the ugly side of cattle farming. “I want all women who are aspiring to get into the business to get to know of its cruel side, so that they better get prepared to face such challenges. The presentation will help you decide whether this is something you really want to get into,” she said.

Ms Moesi said agriculture was a taxing undertake, and one needed to be armed with knowledge to get ahead. Like other businesses, cattle breeding comes with challenges among them, human-wildlife conflict.

“Imagine after a night of all the destruction by elephants, cows will flee the kraals with the calves only for predators, such as hyenas, leopards and lions to be served with free meal for the day,” she said and pointed out that commitment was key for one to survive under such circumstances.

Ms Moesi said it helped to have a mentor, and pleaded with men to make it easier for the women.

Even though the numbers of women in cattle breeding sector were still low, Ms Moesi said, that was not an issue to primarily focus on. “Let us not get worried by why women were not interested in cattle breeding. Rather, let us find and support whatever they are doing. What I know is that there are a lot of women who are engaged in providing products and other services to cattle breeders making it easy for cattle breeders to succeed in what they were doing,” said Ms Moesi.

She said women were engaged in producing feed, some were veterinarians, artificial insemination specialists, accountants and livestock photographers.

She said women could do anything they put their minds to.  Ms Moesi said in the recent past, a youth livestock farmers day was held in Serowe where President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi was a guest of honour.

She said the event revealed that there were a lot of women and youth at the cattle posts.

A beneficiary of Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency, Ms Moesi said determination was among key ingredients for success. Ends