28 Apr 2024

The livestock sector is a major livelihood for Batswana and a major contributor to the Gross Development Product, says Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao.

Speaking at the launch of Thuo Letlotlo programme last week in Serowe, he noted that at independence, the country was dependent on agriculture, especially livestock, but that it changed with the discovery of minerals and the development of other sectors of the economy.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture had taken the decision to develop a more output based flagship programme, Thuo Letlotlo, which aims to transform the livestock sector and to commercialise the industry.

Mr Molao said Thuo Letlotlo was more inclusive and aimed to diversify the livestock sub-sector taking into consideration emerging initiatives, strategies and government priorities that included the Reset Agenda, Transformation Strategy and the liberalisation of the meat industry.

The minister said the new programme would improve the way farmers performed their duties and to farming as a business, adding there was a lot on offer and that no one would be left behind.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi thanked President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi for implementing programmes that benefited Batswana and changed their lives.

Member of Parliament for Serowe North, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe thanked President Masisi for launching the programme in Serowe.

He said Serowe used to be independent in livestock farming and that the launch of programme was the resumption of the industry and a restoration of what was lost.

He thanked President Masisi and his cabinet for the rehabilitation of the Serowe milk processing plant, and urged Serowe North residents to be the first to take up the Thuo Letlotlo programme as it had good intentions. ENDS