Motswana farmer pilots canned chicken project
Innovation technology key to improving agricultural outputs
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM) expertise and skills should be at the centre of the agriculture sector.
An agripreneur also founder and director of Asset Peak Group, Omphile Bayani argues further that stakeholders should also strive to inculcate innovative technology in the sector.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian, Bayani who spoke recently at the inaugural National Science Week webinar said by investing in modern farming, Botswana would be in a better position to produce more food which would also create opportunities for the manufacturing industry.
“This could help the country to reduce its importation bill on food and also boost the contribution of agriculture to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, the sector has experienced a steady decline in its contribution to GDP over the past years of which is an additional challenge to the fight against poverty,” he said.
Bayani said Batswana should shift from the traditional farming practices and focus more on modern farming practices which have proven to have high success or yield rate, improve quality of produce, as well as increase the utilisation of advanced technologies. He said that the only challenge with modern farming is that it is capitalintensive and most of their farmers are not willing to invest or spend more on their agricultural enterprises. “We need more government agricultural programmes which support and develop the agricultural sector by enhancing the use of technology and other modernised farming practices.
“The key challenges that are faced by Botswana’s agricultural sector is that most people who have agricultural land are older, and in the working class, thus making it a challenge for the youth to venture into agriculture as most of them do not own or have access to agricultural land”.
Furthermore, Bayani noted that for many years farming in Botswana has been perceived as a retirement scheme hence there being many elderly people in the agricultural pursuit than the youth.
“Times have changed; agriculture covers a larger scope and encompasses the soil preparations for plant or crop production as well as the animal husbandry processes in order to provide food, wool, and many other products and by- products.
“It also looks into economic diversity and sustainability; agriculture is now beyond just the basics and also the in- depth logistics of engineering. Successful farmers are those who boldly embrace change; technological advancements and innovation.” Bayani, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources ( BUAN), said like other countries, Botswana faces the challenge of self- reliance. “This is particularly with regard to food production and security because Botswana currently imports substantial quantities of food products; both raw and processed from neighbouring countries amounting to billions of pula annually,” he said.
Upon completion of his studies a few years ago, Bayani took part in the BUAN broiler incubation project where he fostered all broiler husbandry techniques. “The incubation project helped spike the innovation in me; hence, the birth of the canned chicken project which is currently work in progress,” he said. Bayani said the majority of broiler farmers are small- scale farmers who basically need continued assistance in capacity building to commercialise agriculture thereby allowing agricultural consultation an opportunity to thrive.
He said Asset Group advocates for diversification from the ordinary broiler chicken meat to a new, unique and tasty product. “Our canned chicken will bring a different taste to the customers; from the usual raw or readily cooked chicken to the conveniently cooked and canned chicken which is also environmentally friendly. “We want to provide customers with excellent products at affordable prices, keep growing and open multiple distribution points in Africa.” Bayani said venturing into the world of agriculture was also about knowledge acquisition in agro- farming and agricultural sustainability. “My study at BUAN helped me identify a gap in the meat demand especially with our cattle industry which suffers an ordeal from the foot and mouth disease. “I ventured into broiler farming to help provide chicken meat as a substitute for beef. I also wanted to be a change- maker; over the years in the history of Botswana, we’ve seen canned fish, and corned beef, but never 100 percent canned chicken. “The chicken canning project was also influenced by the observations made regarding the perishability span of frozen chicken, this is because chicken canning is an effective preservation method that utilises the combined effects of high temperature and high pressure to sterilise food.”