07 Apr 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on April 5 gifted four farmers bulls at Lobu Small Stock Farm.

The bulls bring to 88, the number of livestock donated since the bull donation initiative started in Mahalapye in April 2022.

The initiative is aimed at improving the quality and increasing the national herd.

It is also in line with the goal of transforming Botswana from a middle income economy to a high income economy.

 President Masisi said the cattle industry had great potential for economic growth and as such it was critical to support farmers with keen interest in farming.

Thus, he implored more successful farmers to participate in the bull donation drive to be able to collectively achieve the target of increasing the national herd. 

He assured farmers that the bull donation drive would continue and more farmers would benefit from the initiative. 

Dr Masisi said his desire was to see more Batswana becoming wealthy and have sustainable livelihoods.

He highlighted that of the four bulls, two were donated by Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Samuel Brooks while the other two were contributed by Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng. He highlighted that the bulls were donated to farmers who had proven to be resilient and passionate  about cattle  farming, adding that they were selected by Department of Animal Production after assessment.

Furthermore, he said, the initiative would enable beneficiaries to employ better farming management practices and produce good quality stock. 

The beneficiaries, who are communal farmers are Messrs  David Magalie of Bokspits, Lucas Coetzee of Rappelspan, Paul Bok of Vaalhoek and William Matthys of Struizendam.

Appreciating the donation on behalf of other farmers, Mr Coetzee promised they would  make use of the bulls and share  them with neighbours. 

He appreciated the President for the initiative,which boosted farmers and encouraged them to soldier on. 

He said farming was not for the faint hearted as it required one to be resilient in the face of adversity.

Minister of Agriculture Mr Fidelis Molao encouraged beneficiaries to work harder so that in future they would also be in a position to share with other cattle farmers. 

The minister said government continued to facilitate farmers to produce quality stock in large numbers hence the need for farmers to do their part and support each other to adopt best farming practices. Mr Brooks appreciated the President’s initiative spreading to his constituency as farmers needed to be uplifted to be able produce good quality stock. 

He buttressed the need for beneficiaries to take good care of their bulls and to share them with other farmers.

On other issues the MP said poor rainfalls affected farming and therefore it was critical to come up with drought relief strategies to assist farmers. 

He said farmers in Kgalagadi area faced various challenges such as shortages of water and land.

On the same day one of the farmers in Tsabong District Mr Lucas Taele from Kisa heeded the President’s clarion call for farmers to support the bull donation drive and offered to donate a Brahman for the President to donate to the next farmer. ENDS