19 May 2025

Small-scale farming and entrepreneurship  have established a strong base in the Serowe district, but challenges such as drought and high feed costs persistently trouble farmers.

This was a common issue among livestock exhibitors in Serowe district at the recent Youth Livestock Farmer’s Day.

A farmer from Palapye, Mr Owen Nsala, head of ONLC Boer Goats Studs, mentioned that working as a commercial farmer focused on Boer goat studs and Dorper sheep had been quite challenging.

However, he noted that the experience of farming has been fulfilling for him up to this point.

Mr Nsala mentioned that he initially started raising livestock as a hobby, but eventually moved into commercial farming upon realising the market opportunity and need for Boer goat studs and Dorper sheep.

He also mentioned that the need for imported breeds was at its highest in Botswana, as farmers seek to enhance the quality of their livestock and rear animals that were better suited to withstand drought seasons and the extreme weather that regrettably appeared to be increasingly common in Botswana.

 Moreover, Mr Nsala clarified that in spite of the drought, costly feeds were steadily depleting farmers’ finances.

Additionally, he said that the biggest obstacle they encounter as commercial livestock farmers was the lack of ‘on-the-field’ veterinarians, which was expensive because veterinary-related emergencies usually have no quick solutions, frequently resulting in the death of livestock.

Mr Nsala urged the government to allocate resources and manpower to help commercial farmers and those interested in venturing into farming, highlighting that farming was inherently costly and needed all the support available to succeed.

He further said that the government ought to reexamine the existing funding amounts, as they failed  to address the requirements for everything related to becoming a sustainable commercial farmer.

Ms Basiame Boithatelo, a new Toggenburg goat farmer from Paje, expressed that her aspiration to become a farmer was achieved thanks to financial support from YDF in 2023.

The 37-year-old stated that while she enjoyed farming and hoped to become a large-scale farmer, her path was hindered by challenges, including inadequate grazing land, high feed costs, and wildlife preying on her goats.

She said that these difficulties had mainly led to the limited number of livestock she possessed at present.

Ms Boithatelo also highlighted the importance of increasing female participation in livestock farming, pointing out that the absence of women’s representation in agriculture results in policies and programmes that failed to tackle the unique issues faced by women farmers.

Furthermore, she urged women to participate in livestock farming to affirm the Setswana saying, Mosadi ke thari ya setshaba.

Additionally, Ms Boithatelo expressed that an increased participation of women in showcasing their agricultural products was essential, as it functions not only as a marketing strategy but also allowed interaction with prospective customers and other valuable stakeholders, offering extensive insights that could enhance their skills. ENDS