Utilization of smallstock package of Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development Support Scheme, Botswana

J C Moreki, M Thutwa, O Koloka, K Ntesang and T Ipatleng

Department of Animal Production, Ministry of Agriculture, P/Bag 0032, Gaborone, Botswana
jcmoreki@gmail.com

Abstract

Data on smallstock package of Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) over a three years period (April 2007 to March 2010) were evaluated to ascertain its (smallstock package) performance. A total 6516 smallstock applications were approved. To date, 5563 beneficiaries utilized their packages to the tune of BWP55 831 801, an equivalent of USD8 210 559 This amount was used to purchase 107 896 smallstock for beneficiaries spread across the country.

On average, smallstock population increased by 16.4%. Kgatleng district had the highest increase (71.9%) and Kweneng had the lowest (0.98%). On the other hand, smallstock population declined by -3.84% in North West district. The decline is attributable to poor management due to inadequate monitoring of projects. Across the country the utilization rate of the smallstock package was 79.4%. Gantsi had the highest utilization rate (100%) and Chobe the lowest (40.9%). The main beneficiaries of the smallstock package are women (73.5%) compared to 26.5% for men.

These results suggest that smallstock is contributing to poverty eradication, improved food security and economic empowerment, especially of women.

Keywords: Food security, LIMID, poverty eradication, resource-poor

Introduction

Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) support programme together with Remote Area Dweller Programme (RADP) and Drought Relief Programme are some of the government’s initiatives geared towards addressing poverty in the rural areas of Botswana. The initiatives that support livestock rearing are RADP and LIMID. Botswana Institute for Policy Development Analysis (BIDPA) (2003) reported that Botswana has a strong cultural tradition in livestock and extensive livestock support system. According to the RADP scheme, adults in remote area settlements are entitled to either five cattle or 15 goats. On the other hand, LIMID provides support to the resource-poor to rear up to 30 smallstock (sheep and goats) or 25 Tswana chickens (Ministry of Agriculture 2010).

LIMID has two components: resource-poor and infrastructure development. Currently, the resource-poor component comprises Tswana chickens and smallstock. On the other hand, the infrastructure development component comprises animal husbandry and fodder support, borehole/well equipping, borehole drilling, water reticulation, borehole/well purchase, livestock water development for small herd owners in communal areas, as well as, cooperative poultry abattoirs (Ministry of Agriculture 2010). The LIMID scheme is available only to Botswana citizens aged ≥18 years (Ministry of Agriculture 2006, 2010). The purpose of the resource-poor component is to eliminate poverty by providing resources to the resource-poor who are expected to care for livestock to enable its multiplication. According to Ministry of Agriculture (2010), to qualify for 90% grant in respect of smallstock package, an applicant should own 11 to 20 goats/sheep or 3 to 4 cattle. To qualify for 100% grant an applicant should own 0 to 10 smallstock or 1 to 2 cattle. The maximum grant for smallstock package is BWP 12 000 (USD 1 765).

Poverty levels in Botswana are high and the most vulnerable are women and children. Therefore, data on the LIMID scheme was evaluated over a three year period (from 1^st April 2007 to March 2010) to ascertain the performance of the smallstock package.

Demographic characteristics 

Data on smallstock package utilization are presented in Table 1. A total of 6516 applications were approved across the districts and 5563 applicants (4089 females and 1474 males) utilized their grants to establish smallstock projects across the country. According to Table 1, Kweneng, Southern, North West and Central had the largest number of approved applications. Similarly, the three districts utilized the smallstock grant more than other districts. Compared to other districts, Chobe and Gantsi had few LIMID beneficiaries. The absence of the Department of Animal Production (DAP) in Chobe to publicize LIMID programme contributed significantly to fewer farmers benefitting from the programme. On the other hand, assistance from RADP and Non-Governmental Organizations (e.g., Permaculture Trust Botswana) for the same package could have contributed to the low utilization of LIMID Programme in Gantsi. Also, the number of goats (maximum of 30) that can be purchased using LIMID funds might be considered to be low given that the district is one of the leading districts in livestock (cattle and smallstock) production in the country. The requirement for quotations in the case of LIMID could also have contributed to low utilization of the programme in Gantsi as some applicants did not have patience to look for the five quotations required. On the other hand, quotations are not required in other support schemes such as RADP.

Table 1 shows that the farmers’ utilization of smallstock package (calculated as number of farmers that utilized package/number of applications approved x 100) was 79.4%. The percentage utilization of LIMID funds was highest in Gantsi district followed by Southern, Kweneng, Central and North West. Again, Chobe district had the lowest percentage utilization (40.9%) due to the absence of DAP to facilitate payment of suppliers and to provide technical support. Moreki et al (2010) reported shortage of smallstock in most districts except Kgalagadi. In addition, shortage of Supplies Officers to accompany extension officers to verify supplies before purchase of stock was reported to be another major challenge in the implementation of LIMID programme.
 

Ownership by gender 

Of the 5563 applicants that utilized LIMID grants, 4089 (73.5%) were females and 1474 (26.5%) males (Table 2). It is evident from Table 2 that the majority of beneficiaries of the smallstock package are women. This result indicates that smallstock rearing plays an important role in food security, in addressing issues of gender imbalances, as well as, in poverty eradication in furtherance of the Millennium Development Goal No. 1, i.e., to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty (United Nations 2010) and Botswana’ Vision 2016 (Vision 2016 1997). In South Africa, Sitholimela (2000) reported that the advantages of goats over cattle are that they (1) are easily handled by women and children, (2) eat less, (3) produce quantities of meat and milk for household consumption, (4) have a short generation interval and (5) are prolific. The result on ownership by gender is consistent with Mrema and Rannobe (1996) in Botswana who argued that women own more goats than their male counterparts who have more resources and can afford to own cattle. Recent study of Moreki et al (2010) also reported that women (79.4%) owned smallstock than men (21.6%). In disagreement with the present results Nsoso et al (2004) in their study in Molepolole North of Botswana reported that 52% of males and 48% females farmed with smallstock.

According to Table 2, Kweneng district followed by Southern, North West and Central had more beneficiaries of smallstock package than other districts. On the contrary, Chobe had only nine LIMID beneficiaries, making it the least user of the smallstock package. The low utilization of LIMID packages by Chobe district is attributable to the absence of DAP in the district to publicize LIMID programme, as well as, to provide technical expertise to livestock farmers.

Smallstock numbers 

Table 3 presents data on smallstock numbers across the districts. According to Table 3, the sum of BWP55 831 801 (USD210 559) was used to purchase 107 896 smallstock. In order of importance the five districts that purchased a large number of smallstock are North West, Kweneng, Central, Kgalagadi and Southern. Compared to other districts, Chobe district purchased the smallest number (109) of smallstock mainly because of the absence of DAP in the district to publicize LIMID programme, facilitate payment of suppliers, as well as, to render extension service to the farming community. As regards the use of grants, the districts that used large amounts of money to purchase goats are North West, Central, Kweneng, Southern and Kgalagadi (Table 3). Again, Chobe district utilized less funds than other districts.

According to Table 3, smallstock were expensive in North East followed by Chobe and cheapest in Gantsi and Kgalagadi. The average price of one unit of smallstock was BWP582 (USD86), indicating that the prices in Gantsi and Kgalagadi were below average. Gantsi and Kgalagadi are leaders in smallstock production in the country.

Changes in smallstock population 

Generally, smallstock population increased over time across the districts except for North West (Table 4). On average, smallstock population increased by 16.4%. As shown in Table 4, the highest percentage increase was observed in Kgatleng district followed by Chobe, Southern, North East and Kgalagadi. In North West district, smallstock population declined by -3.84% in North West (Table 4) due to poor management (especially predation and lack of health management) and to some extent inadequate monitoring of projects by extension agents.

Conclusions

• The participation of women in the smallstock package was 73.5%. This result suggests that smallstock plays an important role in poverty eradication, food security and economic empowerment, especially of women. 

  
  

• Except for North West district, smallstock population increased over time across the districts. On average smallstock population increased by 16.4% over a period of three years (i.e., from 2007 to 2010).

  
  

• Smallstock projects were inadequately or poorly monitored, thus giving rise to the abuse of LIMID programme, neglect and/or abandonment of projects by some beneficiaries, especially youth to look for employment or further their studies. Poor monitoring of projects may be attributable to inadequancy of transport and extension service, as well as, shortage of supplies officers to verify purchases of stock. 

  
  

• Further investigations on the impact of the programme on beneficiaries’ livelihoods are recommended as a matter of urgency.

References

BIDPA (Botswana Institute for Policy Development) 2003 Report on the Review of the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) 19 December 2003.  http://www.bidpa.bw/docs/archive/RADP.pdf

LIMID (Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development) Report 2010 Department of Animal Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Ministry of Agriculture 2006 Agricultural Support Schemes, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana.

Ministry of Agriculture 2010 Agricultural Support Schemes, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana. 3-4.

Moreki J C, Mokokwe J, Keboneilwe D and Koloka O 2010 Evaluation of the livestock management and infrastructure development support scheme in seven districts of Botswana. Livestock Research for Rural Development 22(5).  http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/5/more22087.htm

Mrema M and Rannobe S 1996 Goat production in Botswana: Factors affecting production and marketing among small-scale farmers. In, Lebbie S H B and Kagwini E (Editors) Proceedings of the Third Biennial Conference of the African Small Ruminant Research and Network UICC, Kampala Uganda. 5-9 December 1994. Retrieved February 12, 2010, from http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/ilri/x5473b/x5473b0v.htm

Nsoso S J, Monkhei M and Tlhwaafalo B E 2004 A survey of traditional small stock farmers in Molepolole North, Kweneng district, Botswana: Demographic parameters, market practices and marketing channels. Livestock Research for Rural Development 16 (12) 2004. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd16/12/nsos16100.htm

Sitholimela L 2000 The effect of land tenure system on goat production in Kwandebele. M. Inst. Agrar. (Animal Production) Thesis. University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

United Nations 2010 The Millennium Development Goals Report. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) — June 2010.  http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202010%20En%20r15%20-low%20res%2020100615%20-.pdf

Vision 2016 1997 Vision 2016: Towards prosperity for all. Presidential Task Group for a long term vision for Botswana, September 1997.

Received 26 October 2010; Accepted 31 October 2010; Published 9 December 2010

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