01 Jul 2024

Farmers who submitted applications for Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) Programme before introduction of Thuo Letlotlo should reapply under the new dispensation, the Kgatleng District Animal Production Officer, Dr Samuel Tjetjoo has said.

Updating Kgatleng District Councillors about Thuo Letlotlo Programme, he said the newly introduced programme has phased out LIMID, hence their applications were no longer valid for consideration.

He said unlike LIMID and other previous programmes, Thuo Letlotlo was output-based rather than input-based, hence offered rewards for those who reached the set productivity targets.

He said the programme was meant to develop sustainable, inclusive and diversified livestock sector.

Dr Tjetjoo said Thuo Letlotlo was aimed to commercialise the livestock sector, grow the sector in numbers and quality, promotes food security, management practices and unlock opportunities for private sector participation and value chain additions.

Through the initiative, he said applicants had the opportunity to uptake in a wide array of businesses opportunities brought about by the programme.

Among those, he said the programme had opportunity for spin off businesses that residents should tap into such as waste farm collection.

He said it was a requirement that all farmers who enrolled in Thuo Letlotlo should have proper waste management and disposal.

Dr Tjetjoo also advised farmers to migrate to Botswana Animal Identification and Traceability System (BAITS 3) that allowed farmers to register their livestock with ease.

Unlike BAITS 2,  he said BAITS 3 provided a user-friendly interface to input all essential information about the animals, including species, breed, age and simplified the process of transferring ownership as well as keep records accurate and up-to-date.

Commenting, councillors called on the Ministry of Agriculture to increase resources for outreach activities for the Thuo Letlotlo programme, so that farmers in rural areas could also benefit.

They also called for one-stop service centre where farmers could be assisted for the uptake of Thuo Letlotlo. ENDS