'Small Stock Faces Many Challenges'
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday December 14, 2021 06:00
Speaking on behalf of the acting Minister Beauty Manake, at the second edition of the National Development Bank (NDB) Small Stock Expo held last Saturday at the National Agricultural Showground in Gaborone, Chengeta said Botswana has an undersized small stock population. She said the proof of the effectiveness of the expo would only come from the impact made on the ground.
Chengeta said there is need to translate the work that is done into policies, programmes and actions that deliver results. “We must be honest that we will face many challenges along the way. For example, our farmers are fragmented, many have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country’s small stock population is small,” she said. According to Chengeta, these challenges require a coordinated and strengthened effort across the whole agriculture value chain.
However, she indicated that this could be a reality for strong leadership from government as well as stakeholders such as farmers' associations. She said the small stock subsector has been identified as a priority by the government to fullfil the food security and export as evidenced by the secured markets in Europe and Middle East. She added that the creation of a multi-species abattoir in Tsabong that will also slaughter small stock bears testimony to government’s efforts to prioritise the small stock subsector.
However, Manake explained that all this could be attained with the right investment in science and technology. “The right investment in science and technology will enable us to stay ahead of the curve on the latest developments in small stock science and medicine, and to provide up-to-date guidance on smart farming methods and standards,” she said, adding that government is committed to providing our farmers the support they need to maximise the opportunities of digital technologies. Chengeta said although it is not easy task to re-orient a sector with so many farmers who have relied upon traditional methods of farming for so long, government is committed to the path of smart farming.
For her part, NDB chief executive officer Lorato Morapedi said the expo is a clear demonstration that indeed they are determined to “break new ground and walk the path with our customers”. Morapedi said the bank has loaned around P100 million to farmers in the sector, supporting around 1,500 jobs. She said NDB has significantly contributed towards the transformation and commercialisation of the agricultural sector, especially for arable farming, leading to rise in average yields for commercial cereal production from 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes per hectare over the past 10 years. “Additionally, under our #FeedTheNation campaign, which we launched last year, 1,045 jobs have been created through the P86 million loaned to horticultural enterprises.
Based on all this, I have no doubt that we will repeat this history under the small stock subsector,” Morapedi said. She added small stock meat has considerable potential as a future meat-of-choice, as an alternative to other red meats, adding that export markets for small stock meat from Botswana have also opened up.
Moreover, she stated that small stock has the potential to contribute immensely towards the country’s GDP. This year, the expo is being held under the theme 'Smart Farming - The Key to Unlocking the Future of Agriculture'.