April 2012.indd - Ministry of Agriculture

EX-MINER GETS NEWLEASE OF LIFEArticle: France BegenselPhotos: Aggripah WillieAgricultural production isalways at the back of everyman’s mind. Be it that theyare in the corporate world, mining,teaching or medical profession.Some would keep a few animalswhile others would grow somevegetables in their backyards.For Johannes Sachangane ,54, ofSaoshoko, life in the South Africanmines could not offer him what hehad desired. For him, life in themines was a struggle, that is thereason he called it a day in 1981 toreturn home with nothing to showfor the years he spent there.“I had nothing to show for thetime and energy I invested, whenI returned. But at least I can nowshow that mahisa (Tswana traditionwhereby domestic animals; cattle,sheep,goats, etc, are given tosomeone, especially the poor, tolook after. The person is rewardedwith any one of the animals after acertain period of time, dependingon what was agreed upon) hasgiven me a new lease of life.”Sachangane was given mahisa inthe form of cattle by a certain manin the village. “These were cattle ofdifferent breeds; tswana, afrikander,brahman and a few charolois.” Hehas since progressed a lot from thetime he ot the animals.He is paid with a beast ever year.He is glad that he can now takecare of his family with milk andproceeds from selling it (milk). Theformer miner also uses the animalsas for draught power. “ I ploughedand planted my field using theseanimals because there are notractors in our village.”He is quick to point out that onecan prosper well in exotic breedsbecause of their big body structuresand weight, especially if you sellto the Botswana Meat Commission(BMC). He laments that for one toalso do well ,one must take goodcare of the cattle. “You must showthem you care by dipping themand vaccinating against diseasessuch as Lumpy skin, botulism andpasturella.” He posits though thatthe Foot and Mouth Disease is theirmain source of concern comparedto other diseases.Sachangane says their area is ared zone, therefore, their animalscannot be slaughtered and sold tothe Europen Market. A setback, hesays empoverished them, addingthat they are compelled to sell tomillers and butcheries at giveawayprices.The Saoshoko farmer grazeshis cattle in a communal area,decrying the lack of grazing lands.He says this is too much a concernbecause their cattle easily getdiseases and are often stolen oreaten by wild animals. He explainsthat despite this mishap there isplenty of water.The retired miner says it is noteasy go for his animals. He saysDichapetalum Cymosum, (Mogauin Tswana) is highly abundant inthe area. This has resulted in himloosing four animals after theyconsumed it. He adds that thisis a dangerous plant especially ifanimals drink water after eating it.He advices that if one realises thattheir cattle have eaten Mogau, theymust put them in the kraal at leastfor a day without drinking water.Sachangane advices otherfarmers in Okavango that eventhough their area is an FMD zone, they must not despair. He saysthey should continue raising cattleincase the situation changes in thefuture.Johannes SachanganeApril 2012 6