KGATLENG GREAT RESET
BaKgatla look to commercialise Masama Farm New Board to be elected at main Kgotla
BaKgatla will descend on the main Kgotla in Mochudi this Thursday to elect the Board of the Masama community farm. The farm was built on the spoils of the tribal wars between BaKgatla and Bakwena which erupted when BaKgatla, fleeing from Paul Kruger in Saulspoort, killed Bakwena chief, Motshodi, looted their cattle and settled in their territory now known as Mochudi.
Initially the farm was known as ‘Diphatsa’ to denote the conditions under which these cattle were acquired. These were ordinary Tswana breed. With time, the royal family deliberated on ways to improve Bakgatla cattle breed and introduced Africander from South Africa solely to improve the Kgatla cattle stock.
When the Africander disappeared, Serylin, Simmental and Brahman were introduced in that order which remain the dominant breeds found in the farm to this day. The bulls were bought from South Africa kept in the farm and then sold to BaKgatla to improve their breed. Eventually the name Diphatsa was dropped
and the farm adopted the name of the area - Masama Livestock Improvement Centre. Bogosi then enlisted the support of Veterinary Services for their technical expertise and the District Commissioner to assist with resources.
The farm is administered by a Board chaired by the Chief. Kgosi Segale Linchwe chaired it for a long time. The Board is elected at the Kgotla because it is a community project. There are also ex-officio members such as the District Commissioner; Veterinary Services; and the Business Community who bring ideas and play an advisory role to the Board. Kgosana George Thwane of Artesia, who sits on the Board and was nominated by the Chairperson, Kgosi Bana Sekai to talk to this publication, says the farm has eight (8) paddocks and measures 11 kilometres along the A1 road and 8 Km westwards from A1.
Only three paddocks have a total 300 breeding stock of heifers while the five paddocks are under utilised. There are currently no Bulls. The farm was
affected by Covid since these bulls are sourced from South Africa.
“Going forward we will get another bull or two. There was only one Brahman left but it died and the simental and Sherilyn were old and we had to sell them. This means we still have to secure another bull to join the breeding stock, but in the meantime we use artificial insemination.” Kgosana Thwane says although the concept of breeding stock continued and grew beyond the borders of Kgatleng to attract farmers from Kgalagadi, Gammangwato and all over the country during annual auction sales, revenue from sales is largely eaten by the farm’s running costs. These include wages for the three herd men and one farm manager as well as maintenance of the perimeter fence, the three boreholes, farm equipment such as the tractors used to monitor the fence and diesel. Auction sales are held every year in May and at best raise upwards of P450 000, which Kgosana Thwane contends is insufficient. “Looking at the income versus the expenditure, there is a big problem which clearly indicates that we must think outside the box about diversifying our income generating activities in the farm.” Priority areas under consideration include the introduction of fodder crops considering the area has plentiful water; large scale dairy and small stock; as well as partnerships with investors who could lease parts of the farm especially along the A1 highway. Just before the onset of Covid 19 pandemic, the Board went on a retreat to Mmathubudukwane where it discussed possibilities of running Masama as a corporate entity instead of a community project devoid of any corporate aspects. “Now an investor interested in dairy farming for example, can lease our paddocks and bring their expertise to run the business and pay us rent. We are in the process of looking for investors.” Kgosana Thwane says Morafe was duly informed at the Kgotla about this resolution and gave it its blessings. Although participation in the Board is on voluntary basis, the current Board, which includes well known figures such as Prof Mpho Molomo, Rre Tladi, Rre Matlhage.
Among the challenges besieging the Farm, Kgosana Thwane mentions veldt fires, which threaten grazing pastures; predators such as wild dogs and leopards which kill calves, animal diseases such as Anthrax and vandalism of the fence.
Funds permitting, the Board would like to install a wild-animals–proof fence to ward off predators. Sadly, the fence sometimes gets vandalised by farmers from neighbouring cattleposts such as Mmamagwaila, Leselo, Ratshweu and Ditshwannye to graze their cattle inside the farm or to drive one of the farm bulls to their kraals. This ends up compromising the breed when free range cattle mix with the farm stock. To get around this problem, Kgosana Thwane says they try by all means to sensitise farmers in these syndicates. The Board is also toying with the idea of introducing game tourism especially since government now allows citizens to keep game.
Certainly, the new Board has a lot on its plate to diversify income generating activities in the farm. At the last kgotla meeting, Kgosana Ishamel Rakgathi of Dikgonnye called for a revamp of the farm to turn it into mixed-use where both cattle, sheep, pigs, small stock, poultry or fowls are reared alongside large-scale crop planting. Kgosana Tosh Kgotlele of Leshibitse who also sits on the Board by virtue of his village’s proximity to the farm, would not be drawn into discussing the benefits of the farm to his village but instead referred us to Kgosi Sekai.
The Spokesperson of Kgosikgolo Kgafela II, Phalafala Maname said the BaKgatla sovereign wants the farm to benefit his Morafe and will support a Board that brings progressive ideas to improve Morafe’s welfare and create jobs for the youth.