Members of the Botswana Ostrich Farmers Association that gathered last week in Gaborone for their Annual General Meeting (AGM) have resolved to resuscitate the ailing industry by exploiting all available government programmes for commercial and agro-tourism.
Among these citizen empowerment programmes are Temo Letlotlo, Thuo Letlotlo – both of which the industry stands to benefit from grants and concessional loans - as well as approaching the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency for loans.
In fact, Iponeng Lenyatso, an officer from CEDA was at hand to inform the farmers about the CEDA products that they can apply for to kick-start their ostrich businesses, either farming, or producing stock feed.
Crammed in one of Maharaj Convention Centre’s rooms, the members spoke passionately about reviving the industry’s value chains, citing not only the favourable conditions for ostrich farming in Botswana, but also market potential for ostrich meat, hides, feathers, eggs, and egg shells in light of the bird flu attack that has thrown South African ostrich farmers in disarray.
Chairman of the Association, Thabo Mokwena, informed the enthusiastic crowd that the world is basically looking to Botswana to provide it with ostrich meat and other by-products.
He said ostrich farmers have to contend with challenges such as high input costs, especially feeds, lack of finance, inadequate extension services, limited infrastructure and variable feed supplies.
Despite these hurdles he said Botswana, which commands the highest number of ostriches in the wild in the world, stands a good stead to become the major exporter of ostrich products.
Mokwena said countries are lining up to buy live ostriches from Botswana for breeding purposes. He warned that live exports would be tantamount to shooting “ourselves on the foot” since these countries have capacity to breed and are making lots of profit, while Botswana farmers are not benefitting anything in turn.
He said it is also comforting that South African farmers, are willing to partner with Botswana farmers to revive the industry.
Furthermore, Mokwena cited the existence of the government-run Dibete Ostrich Multiplication Unit, whose mandate is to breed chicks to sell at subsidised prices to ostrich farmers, as well as the Gaborone-based Multi-Species Abattoir Botswana, which was specifically created for the slaughter of ostriches.
However, owing to a lack of throughput, the abattoir ended up being used for the slaughter of other species.
One farmer – Matsetse – blamed both the Ostrich Company and the Ministry of Agriculture for failing to run the abattoir properly, and eventually throwing ostrich farmers into debts and forfeiture when CEDA demanded payment of loans it had given out to farmers. So outraged was the farmer that he demanded to know from Lenyatso what CEDA would do about the old farmers whose ostrich farm businesses have failed but still owe CEDA.
Officially opening the AGM, Chief Scientific Officer responsible for Non-Ruminants at the Ministry of Agriculture, Bueno Shantgo Mokhutshwane implored members to join hands with Committee members that they would be electing, to take the association forward.
He encouraged BOFA to join Botswana Farmers Association which was formed under the African Union. Mokhutshwane indicated that compared to cattle farming, ostrich farming is a lucrative business.
He said while one cow can produce only one calf, which would take up to 21 months to grow and give you 250 kg of meat at the end of the day, one ostrich on the other hand can hatch up to 40 chicks, which upon slaughter will give you 1800kg in only 13 months.
Additionally, one ostrich can produce 50 square metres of skin (hide) and 836 kg of feathers. A belt made from ostrich skin can fetch up to US$5000 in developed countries, Mokhutshwane said, demonstrating how lucrative ostrich farming is, if taken seriously as a business.
Indeed, the business is not for the faint-hearted. It requires, grit and determination. For example, raising 100 breeder chicks would require P273 00 just for feed. And raising 10 day-old chicks until 12 months when they can be slaughtered would require P35 000.
He encouraged farmers to take this business seriously if they are to reap any return on their investment. He said that every three months they give hotels and lodges in the Okavango Delta permits to import over three tonnes of ostrich meat from South Africa, which he said could be done by local ostrich farmers if they were serious.
He urged them to apply for the P10 million for cluster formation under Thuo Letlotlo to improve their businesses.
Dr John Moreki, Lecturer at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) also a Researcher, urged ostrich farmers to pull themselves by the bootstraps, saying it was pathetic that Botswana has the largest number of wild ostriches, but there are no ostrich farmers to speak of.
He explained that ostrich and guinea-fowl originate in Africa, debunking the misconception that ‘Koko ya Setswana’ (Tswan chicken) originates in Africa, saying it actually originates in Southeast Asia. Ostrich farming started in South Africa, around the Western Cape and the first commercial farm was for the harvest of feathers, which were used in the fashion industry.
The meat was a by-product then. Ostrich farming then spread to other countries of the world, like Argentina, Australia, Egypt, New Zealand, United States and Israel and many other, even Canada where it is very cold, indicating its ability to adapt to different climatic conditions.
Ikanyeng Kgaswane, who represented DOMU farm manager told the gathering that ostrich products such as feet, skin and even ash from burnt ostrich, is in high demand.
Sadly, the gathering was also informed that criminals had vandalised DOMU facility, breaking electric cables that supply electricity to incubators, which has meant a drawback for their hatching plans.
The Coordinator of Thuo Letlotlo, Thutlwa gave an overview of the grants and loans available for ostrich farmers and urged them to apply for these services.
BOFA Member Rick Gower told Botswana Guardian after the AGM that it is important for the association to develop a standard business plan for ostrich farmers so that they can submit their applications for financing at Thuo Letlotlo as a group not individuals.
“It’s important to do this so that we can all produce at the same time and provide the Abattoir with the requisite throughput at all times.
“We do this so that we can stock at the same time. Others, especially in the wild, we will hire helicopters to capture them so that we can meet the stipulated quota. The farm size should be based on the farmer’s capacity to
stock”, he said. It was also explained by Mokwena that ostrich eye and tendon can be implanted in human beings.
At the end of the AGM, a Committee was elected made up of Thabo Mokwena (Chairman), Jacob Olyn (Vice Chairman), Boikanyo Kepadisa (Secretary), Fana Maano (Vice Secretary), Josephine Morule (Treasurer), Kgomotso Maphane (PRO, Media & Communications), Botsalo Rabogadi (National Coordinating Secretary), Mpho Roberts and Rebecca Hengari (Additional Members).
Among these citizen empowerment programmes are Temo Letlotlo, Thuo Letlotlo – both of which the industry stands to benefit from grants and concessional loans - as well as approaching the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency for loans.
In fact, Iponeng Lenyatso, an officer from CEDA was at hand to inform the farmers about the CEDA products that they can apply for to kick-start their ostrich businesses, either farming, or producing stock feed.
Crammed in one of Maharaj Convention Centre’s rooms, the members spoke passionately about reviving the industry’s value chains, citing not only the favourable conditions for ostrich farming in Botswana, but also market potential for ostrich meat, hides, feathers, eggs, and egg shells in light of the bird flu attack that has thrown South African ostrich farmers in disarray.
Chairman of the Association, Thabo Mokwena, informed the enthusiastic crowd that the world is basically looking to Botswana to provide it with ostrich meat and other by-products.
He said ostrich farmers have to contend with challenges such as high input costs, especially feeds, lack of finance, inadequate extension services, limited infrastructure and variable feed supplies.
Despite these hurdles he said Botswana, which commands the highest number of ostriches in the wild in the world, stands a good stead to become the major exporter of ostrich products.
Mokwena said countries are lining up to buy live ostriches from Botswana for breeding purposes. He warned that live exports would be tantamount to shooting “ourselves on the foot” since these countries have capacity to breed and are making lots of profit, while Botswana farmers are not benefitting anything in turn.
He said it is also comforting that South African farmers, are willing to partner with Botswana farmers to revive the industry.
Furthermore, Mokwena cited the existence of the government-run Dibete Ostrich Multiplication Unit, whose mandate is to breed chicks to sell at subsidised prices to ostrich farmers, as well as the Gaborone-based Multi-Species Abattoir Botswana, which was specifically created for the slaughter of ostriches.
However, owing to a lack of throughput, the abattoir ended up being used for the slaughter of other species.
One farmer – Matsetse – blamed both the Ostrich Company and the Ministry of Agriculture for failing to run the abattoir properly, and eventually throwing ostrich farmers into debts and forfeiture when CEDA demanded payment of loans it had given out to farmers. So outraged was the farmer that he demanded to know from Lenyatso what CEDA would do about the old farmers whose ostrich farm businesses have failed but still owe CEDA.
Officially opening the AGM, Chief Scientific Officer responsible for Non-Ruminants at the Ministry of Agriculture, Bueno Shantgo Mokhutshwane implored members to join hands with Committee members that they would be electing, to take the association forward.
He encouraged BOFA to join Botswana Farmers Association which was formed under the African Union. Mokhutshwane indicated that compared to cattle farming, ostrich farming is a lucrative business.
He said while one cow can produce only one calf, which would take up to 21 months to grow and give you 250 kg of meat at the end of the day, one ostrich on the other hand can hatch up to 40 chicks, which upon slaughter will give you 1800kg in only 13 months.
Additionally, one ostrich can produce 50 square metres of skin (hide) and 836 kg of feathers. A belt made from ostrich skin can fetch up to US$5000 in developed countries, Mokhutshwane said, demonstrating how lucrative ostrich farming is, if taken seriously as a business.
Indeed, the business is not for the faint-hearted. It requires, grit and determination. For example, raising 100 breeder chicks would require P273 00 just for feed. And raising 10 day-old chicks until 12 months when they can be slaughtered would require P35 000.
He encouraged farmers to take this business seriously if they are to reap any return on their investment. He said that every three months they give hotels and lodges in the Okavango Delta permits to import over three tonnes of ostrich meat from South Africa, which he said could be done by local ostrich farmers if they were serious.
He urged them to apply for the P10 million for cluster formation under Thuo Letlotlo to improve their businesses.
Dr John Moreki, Lecturer at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) also a Researcher, urged ostrich farmers to pull themselves by the bootstraps, saying it was pathetic that Botswana has the largest number of wild ostriches, but there are no ostrich farmers to speak of.
He explained that ostrich and guinea-fowl originate in Africa, debunking the misconception that ‘Koko ya Setswana’ (Tswan chicken) originates in Africa, saying it actually originates in Southeast Asia. Ostrich farming started in South Africa, around the Western Cape and the first commercial farm was for the harvest of feathers, which were used in the fashion industry.
The meat was a by-product then. Ostrich farming then spread to other countries of the world, like Argentina, Australia, Egypt, New Zealand, United States and Israel and many other, even Canada where it is very cold, indicating its ability to adapt to different climatic conditions.
Ikanyeng Kgaswane, who represented DOMU farm manager told the gathering that ostrich products such as feet, skin and even ash from burnt ostrich, is in high demand.
Sadly, the gathering was also informed that criminals had vandalised DOMU facility, breaking electric cables that supply electricity to incubators, which has meant a drawback for their hatching plans.
The Coordinator of Thuo Letlotlo, Thutlwa gave an overview of the grants and loans available for ostrich farmers and urged them to apply for these services.
BOFA Member Rick Gower told Botswana Guardian after the AGM that it is important for the association to develop a standard business plan for ostrich farmers so that they can submit their applications for financing at Thuo Letlotlo as a group not individuals.
“It’s important to do this so that we can all produce at the same time and provide the Abattoir with the requisite throughput at all times.
“We do this so that we can stock at the same time. Others, especially in the wild, we will hire helicopters to capture them so that we can meet the stipulated quota. The farm size should be based on the farmer’s capacity to
stock”, he said. It was also explained by Mokwena that ostrich eye and tendon can be implanted in human beings.
At the end of the AGM, a Committee was elected made up of Thabo Mokwena (Chairman), Jacob Olyn (Vice Chairman), Boikanyo Kepadisa (Secretary), Fana Maano (Vice Secretary), Josephine Morule (Treasurer), Kgomotso Maphane (PRO, Media & Communications), Botsalo Rabogadi (National Coordinating Secretary), Mpho Roberts and Rebecca Hengari (Additional Members).