'Small Stock Faces Many Challenges'

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.