Ngami cattle farmers urged to diversify
Boniface Keakabetse | Thursday August 7, 2014 12:27
Wellio who is one of the directors at Maun Lodge, implored farmers during the Ngamiland International Trade fair (NITAEX) to diversify within the agricultural sector in the district. He said farmers can venture into other forms of agriculture like crop production, aquaculture, food processing as well as fisheries.
“I urge you to diversify the agricultural sector and not focus on one commodity,” he said.
He said despite the active Foot and Mouth Disease (FDM) in the district they are other avenues of opportunities such as setting up tannery. Wellio said the district has abundant fish resources which can be processed and distributed. It also boasts abundant water resources like rivers which farmers can use to venture into horticulture to supply the district and national vegetable market, he siad.
In reference to the show theme, ‘Ngamiland for and beyond a wildlife based economy-exploring new avenues’, Wellio said it was relevant to the district given its tourism destination status.
But, he also warned that all emphasis should not be on tourism as there were other industries such as agriculture, property, service delivery, food processing, manufacturing to be developed to boost the districts’ economy.
In response, one of the show organisers, Boyce Sekgoma said they strive to give various exhibitors in agriculture, service sector, manufacturing and tourism a platform to showcases their products and services.
He said the show provides an opportunity for the exhibitors to network and market their products in the district, nationally and internationally.
Different exhibitors who talked to Mmegi Business said although this year the attendance was lower than they expected, they hope that next year will be better. In an interview, Sekgoma revealed that they failed to get a sponsor for the show saying this was to be expected as it is the first year of the show.
He further revealed that they had to cut off some of the lined up activities at the show such as the popular horse racing in Maun as the event had no sponsors.