MMEGI MONITOR ARTICLE : “ SMALL FARMERS CRY AS BMC UPS PRICES “ An article entitled “SMALL FARMERS CRY AS BMC UPS PRICES” that appeared in the Mmegi Monitor (Volume 15 No.3) of Monday the 27th January, 2014 is surprising as it is disappointing. It is not clear what exactly the paper hoped to achieve with the said story because everything about the story is confusing, inaccurate and demonstrates poor knowledge of the subject of the story by the writers. In their terribly inaccurate analysis, the writers attempted to use the weights used by BMC in setting prices to illustrate why they believed the prices would benefit the so called “WHITE GHANZI FARMERS” but not the communal farmer, but they made such a mess of the said analysis which really demonstrated poor understanding of the subject by the writers. It is clear that the writers do not understand how the said weights are used and why they have been used. Ironically, even as clearly demonstrated by this said story, the writers did not even attempt to verify the facts especially the weights quoted at least to create some semblance of accuracy in the story. The example used in the so called analysis such as some farmers would fetch P10,739.25, with their supposed male animals that weigh 999kg is horribly exaggerated as no animal in the said category in Botswana has ever attained that weight. It is even worse that such inaccuracy is used to unfairly accuse some Batswana farmers. In the records of buying that spanned some six or so years we have not seen anywhere where any animal in the said category has ever attained those weights as used in the so called analysis. Surely it is a mystery why the paper refers to “white Ghanzi Farmers” as to our knowledge “White Farmers” are not only found in Ghanzi, but they are all over the country if the writer through his story wanted us to believe that “White Farmers” have better cattle than other tribes. Cattle statistics in Botswana shows that 90 percent of cattle are in the communal sector, obviously for BMC to achieve its target of slaughtering over 200,000 cattle a year it needs to access the majority of the cattle (90 percent) which has been happening especially through the Direct Cattle Purchase (DCP) Scheme, which is what the said prices refer to. Our biggest suppliers are in fact communal farmers, surely one does not understand how the paper’s mysterious “WHITE GHANZI FARMERS” become the “NO.1 BMC customer”. There is also reference to the “so called communal farmer”, who is quoted by the paper, and by his own admission he is not selling cattle to BMC. One then wonders how what is quoted is relevant to BMC as he does not sell to BMC or is it case of “hearsay”. We at BMC are terribly disappointed with this story as it is not only malicious but also has the potential to stir up racial divisions in the farming community unfairly. It is one thing to accuse people on the things they have done but another to spread untruth about those people and pass the said untruth as an analysis of the fact. It is also unfortunate that reference is made to a Motswana farmer who it appears also has no understanding of the subject which he was supposed to lend credence to. We really would like to appeal to ALL FARMERS not to be distracted by pseudo experts in all aspects of BMC who are many these days, but any farmer may seek to clarify with us anything they would like to know. Our offices are always open, and we are there for them should any explanation be required. To this end let me commend, the Mahalapye Sub District Council whose councilors came all the way to Lobatse to seek explanation from BMC on issues which affect farmers in their District, surely if they are able to do, others also can, which then will remove and avoid wide speculations such as in this story to be taken as truth. I thank you (Signed) DR AKOLANG TOMBALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER For more information regarding this press release : Contact : Tiro Kganela Corporate Communications & Public Relations Manager Botswana Meat Commission P/Bag 4 Lobatse Republic of Botswana Tel: +(267) 5341234 Mobile: +(267) 71311481 Fax: +(267) 5332504
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 13:22:42 +0000