We are excited to share episode 2 of LinkCast which features Olorato Sebitla a young female Agripreneur from Botswana who is a celebrated food systems hero. LINK Cast is moderated by Mark Wambui and Chethana Biliyar.
This episode is a one on one conversation that focuses on the journey of Olorato and what it takes to become a food systems hero while venturing into exciting and thought-provoking questions such as:
This is LINKCast, the podcast show that advances your understanding of leadership and collaboration in the world of development. I'm your host – Mark Wambui.
Olorato Sebitla counts as one of Botswana's young visionary farmers. Olorato runs her own farm, focused on small stock breeding, but is steadily venturing into poultry piggery and hydroponic systems. On this episode, she talks to us about her unconventional path of leaving her career in human resources to pursue her passion in agriculture. And how this decision is undoing century-old stereotypes that only men could make it in the industry.
[Please note, this podcast is being recorded remotely with varied sound environments from our guests.]
Such a pleasure to have you on the show, Olorato.
Thank you, Mark. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you for hosting me.
So, to start us off, you were in human resources before. Could you just take us through your decision to study HR, then leaving the field to go into agriculture?
Okay, having to study human resources was my choice since I loved business. After graduating from high school, that's when I went to do my tertiary education at the Limkokwing, University of creative technology here in Botswana. And it happened that I went on for an internship to one of our companies here. I was hired to be an HR manager, but as a trainee, before I got permanently hired. And I used to go to the office time and again, every day 8 am to 5 pm, to just do ordinary office routine work. And I think it somehow just brought me to get into the office and do the same thing over and over without having a chance to explore myself. And as much as I loved farming before I loved agriculture, I just decided, but why don't I just leave out this thing to go do something that I'm very passionate about? Because I felt like in the office space, my abilities were so much compromised. And since I loved working with a lot of people engaging with a lot of the community, that's when I just decided that I should just go and do farming. Fortunately, there was an opening of call of applications for a fund to start a small stock business. And I applied through our Ministry of Youth, Sports Development, and Culture here in Botswana. And fortunately, I was approved. And that's when I got the funds to establish my small stock that was close then to start doing more of what I love and exploring myself in the agricultural sector.
Do you have anyone in your family who was actually into farming before? Were your parents into farming? Where did you get this love and passion at least towards farming? Did you grow up in an urban setting? Or did you grow up in a rural setting? Where did your connection in farming emanate from?
My great grandparents were the first farmers in our country Botswana, especially in my deck street here. They were the famous ones with some agricultural missionaries, cows, cattle, and all that. And it inspired me as I grew up to see what they have achieved so far, though only their farming activities. So, I grew up having to also have more interest in on-farm activities. Like when school closes, they will take us to the farm to do some fun chores there to help and learn. So since from a tender age, as much as I can remember, I think my connection became so intact at that point. And then because I had no livestock, I had no cattle or no goats. I started to do some pet farming in my home. Well, the schools were open because I couldn't go to the farm then. So, I had a lot of dogs around that. I used to pet a nest and that really inspired me a lot into tapping into the livestock farming production to date.
Currently, you're involved in stock breeding, why did you choose to go into this particular kind of farming?
Oh, small stock farming is very interesting. It's very manageable. As a woman having some limited resources, it is very affordable for youth and a woman like me to start. It doesn't require much of the time, much of the resources like any other livestock productions. I realized that over the years as much as the food system is growing, people are starting to learn and to appreciate goat meat. And, with its health benefits, it has the demand is so much increasing. And that puts it in a good state of an economic prospect for someone who wants to be successful in the commercial farming of a small stock product. And small stock are very sociable animals. They relate fast with people and making it easier for a woman, for a youth to manage his head, especially when they stay at the farm. So, in that times, I found it a very, easier manageable livestock production.
[Botswana's agricultural sector is vital to the livelihood of its citizens, with many operating farms for subsistence. Livestock production, especially cattle, contributes an estimated 80% of the agricultural GDP, with beef counting as one of the primary agricultural products for export. Livestock production exceeds domestic needs, with a cattle population estimated at 2.1 million. Thanks to this surplus, Botswana ranks as one of the key exporters of range-fed beef to the European Union.]
In your experience, both as a farmer now and even before when you're getting into the industry, how would you describe Botswana's agricultural sector for someone who perhaps knows nothing about it?
The agricultural sector in Botswana, it's a lucrative business sector because it covers both crops and livestock production. Though most of our farmers here only subsistence, and they're not yet into the commercial part. And they cover it covers a lot of geographical coverage to these subsistence farmers. And Botswana is approximately at about 3% of our agricultural produce activities with many citizens operating funds and with livestock. That's what we pride ourselves in as a country because our cattle contribute to an estimated 80% of our GDP, with our beef being our primary export product to the European Union. I think this one you've noticed that Botswana is the one major export beef export to the European Union. And with that being said, Botswana is very full of opportunities in agriculture.
Most of our production, especially in cattle and small stock exceeds our domestic needs in the country. And that opens doors for us to be able to export to other markets, outside our borders. For someone who would want to invest in the agricultural sector in Botswana would really be at a very good position, both looking at our quality products and our income and our economic prospect as a country.
Olorato, you know, in a very interesting position here, both our youth and the women involved in agriculture. Will you say the particular challenges that face these two groups especially?
Oh, whoa, talk of agricultural challenges! You being a woman, being youth to both genders to say, we've got like gender-specific obstacles, a huge gender-specific obstacle in our agricultural sector here in Botswana. And, most greatly is the lack of our access to the land where we could be carrying [out] productive agricultural activities. And it tends to be the biggest roadblock to female farmers into going through the land reforms, protocols, and all that.
Again, one challenge is to get financed. It's not easier as youth to be funded for an agricultural project, because most of our financers here want security over what they will be giving us. And youth, we are young, we are just starting life; there is not much that we can give at par to what we want to be funded with.
And that really makes the whole space more challenging than maybe how someone else will think. It also relates to having production resources, where there's everything is just so insufficient for women and youth over men. So, it creates a lot of challenges in having women and youth stand up and say, we are here, and we are farming.
And let me ask you, you mentioned something about land here. What’s a broader issue here? Is it that young people…umm…land is not being passed down from generation to generation is there that there's limited land, that cultural rights don't allow women to inherit land? What's this issue about land?
Well, Botswana has a very big geographical coverage of land for farming. Now, the problem is with our land reformation protocols. Mostly women would have land as inheritance from their husbands. It really is the major cause of why the women and the youth don't have enough access to land. Also, culturally, when we are married, and my husband is the only spouse who is eligible to be applying for land. And I cannot, as a woman- if my husband has a certificate to his name, as his woman, I cannot apply with my own name. Because if we are married, now, we now on record seen as one entity owning that particular land.
So, what are some of the lessons that you feel you've learned along the way that you'd like to share with others who’re not into agriculture at the moment?
I've just learned that agriculture is not basically a last resort thing to do. Just like any other business and any other career, agriculture needs a lot of planning and needs effort, and it needs sacrifices for it to be a successful project. Passion is very vital in the agricultural sector. Because of the so many challenges that we go through in agriculture to anyone who wants to venture into it, must be ready to have patience. Because agriculture is very straining every day, every minute. It's a lesson to be learned. So, it needs one to be very patient with the process. It doesn't require somebody who needs faster cash. Do your research well. Know what needs to be done, and what's not. Research technologies to use and your market access.
[After the break, we ask Olorato whether the anti-meat movement that is taking place in the West is something that keeps her awake at night or is Africa ready to embrace meat created from the lab.]
[Leadership LINK.org is an exciting new free online resource that strives to support the leadership journeys of individuals working at the intersection of policy and human development, with food security and livelihoods in the balance. Showcasing the people at the heart of these efforts is what Leadership LINK is all about. Curated videos, podcasts, articles, and books embedded in leadership destinations will enable you to pace your own learning and engage with peers and discussion forums. Leadership LINK.org was developed by Policy LINK which works through partnerships with local national and regional actors working across USAID’s Feed the Future focus countries. Enhance your journey today on Leadership Link.org.]
You will be participating in the United Nations Food Systems Summit. What are some of the expectations for the Summit, and especially as it relates to Botswana, and the continent as a whole?
We are already having a National Dialogue summit going on the other side. I believe that the food systems depend on more citizen engagement across the world. And as much as I'm committed into the movement as a first systems hero, I expect our governments to advance their policy frameworks and innovative solutions to improve access to having healthy food systems in our countries, by bringing all diverse actors to ensure food is a reality for all. Head of State should also work together with the mature goal of eliminating hunger and poverty, into achieving our sustainable development goals of ending hunger and poverty in our communities.
[The global demand for meat, coupled with growing anti-meat sentiment, has resulted in a complex relationship for those who love the taste, but not the industry. Cultured meat, which is grown from animal cells, has been touted as a solution to this dilemma. Proponents of cultured meat argue that it is real meat just without the slaughter of animals. However, while cultured meat varieties increased, it still remains an extremely expensive alternative, making it inaccessible to a majority of the population.]
I have a slightly controversial question here. There’s a growing anti-meat sentiment, especially in the West. Do you think this is something that is going to significantly impact Africa's agriculture? And do you think Africa's future of agriculture can lean towards this lab-created meat so to speak?
I don't think it's something that we as Africans can really embrace. Because when you talk of lab meat, we are talking of animal cells, tissue cells; we’re talking of engineering technologies being put together to come up with that product we call lab meat. I don't think Africa as the whole can buy into the opinion of growing anti-meat. We love meat, and we love conventional meat. We slaughter animals to enjoy the purest meat with the right nutritional content it. But, as for Africa as a whole, I don't think we will really embrace the lab-created meat. First, it is very expensive than the conventional meat that we have. And that will be the biggest barrier for Africa, to be able to purchase looking at how we consume the meat products, and how expensive this lab meat will be. A lot of high population of cattle, of livestock in Africa, so, why would we need to produce this lab meat when we can just make our own organic meat and enjoy it?
Then what do you think when you're looking at the future? What do you think is a foreseeable technology that Africa is moving, or Africa's agriculture is moving, towards?
Africa really needs to be diverse with technology. As much as we are trying to commercialize our agricultural projects, we need also to be advanced in machinery; to expand our scales for speed in our farm productivity., This will lead to more efficient cultivation of more land, especially to farmers who grow crops. Looking at how the demand for food is growing across the continent, we realize that at the same time, the supply faces some constraints and land and in farming inputs. So, Africa needs technology. We need to be capacitated on the importance of having drones, the importance of blockchains, the importance of artificial intelligence, the vertical farming systems. As I aspire to also do hydroponic system, I think are good even to educate myself on this vertical farming methods. So, we need technology as much as we need food.
And maybe we can try to push a bit more specificity. When you're looking at your own farming and everything that you're doing as a food systems hero, if you had to look around your business, what do you feel you would need now to get to where you feel like you wanted to go to?
As for me, my brand name, Maplasi Agriventure, like we've just been talking of infrastructures, we need, well, infrastructure firms where we can manage to pull all resources into one place. Farm, produce, package, and take to the market, all at one place without having to go up and about trying to find logistics person marketing, producers all that. We've got major constraints of water in Botswana and having water in the farm it's very expensive for an ordinary Botswanan. I think it's one thing that our government will soon be looking into how he can she can help farmers, especially smallholders, to overcome the water barrier that we have already. So, what most important needs for one like me to be to play a very vital role is to see having a farm well equipped, the right infrastructure, rows, and networks in our farm spaces. So, we can be able to do all things at a time in one place without having to waste time running about looking for other resources.
And to sort of gradually ramp this up, it's amazing speaking to you time just flies by. But I'll ask when you look at the future of your farm, where’d you envision it the next few years?
Well, I'm a dreamer. I dream big. I'm a first systems hero. I see myself already building a household name for my farm that is trading as my blessing Agra venture. I aspire to take role in different agricultural activities and entities. As broad as the sector it is, I want to have a stake at each and every most industries along the African value chain. I foresee myself as a powerhouse for agricultural consultancy, with more emphasis on capacitating smallholder farmers in my community and in Africa, to motivate them into commercializing the farms. And also, as an advocate, to inspire our youth to venture into the green technology sector, which is agriculture to do it as a commercial business for our wealth creation and for our generations. And farming neat, able-bodied women, male and youth to be active and participate in the sector.
And with that, I want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you for joining us on LINKCast. And, for the audience, be sure to subscribe and listen more into our in-depth conversation on the software of global development. Thank you, Olorato.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Mark. Thank you for hosting me.
This episode has been made possible by the generous contribution of the American people through USAID Policy LINK.
Thank you for joining us on link cast. Be sure to subscribe and listen for more in-depth conversations on the software of global development.
Sources used to support the content of this episode, from Food Mzansi and America's International Trade Administration, are linked in the description of this episode.