No category Today 14:18

*Jimare Next Level Farmers CO*

Date of Meeting 29 August 2020 @1500hrs

Venue: Dwii Farms (Mchive)
*Present*:
Mr & Mrs Mchive (host)
Laone Pelahalo (Scriber)
Dziilani Abel (Chair)
Dennis Mabote
Oscar Pulenyane
Annah Pulenyane
Joyce Haembele
Abraham Kgaboitsile
George Monyepi
Members for registration of society list:

1.George Monyepi
2.Dziilani Abel
3.Sailors Rampart
4.Laone Gasebonwe
5.Bonno Mojaki
6.Kaisara Ditshwane
7.Francis Haembele
8.Benny Magawe
9.Bonno Makuke
10. Onkabetse Pulenyane
11. Dennis Mabote
12.Abraham Kgaboitsile
13. Joe Mchive
14.Mercy Batisani
15.Nkeletsang Monyepi
16. Monica Dipheko
17. Bright Makosha
18. Joseph Nkalolang
19. Kebaeditse Madome
20. Tlhalefang Junior Phole

*Apologies*:
Bennie Magawe
Francis Haembele

*Agenda*:
0.Welcome remarks
1.Purpose of the meeting
2. Formation of association
3. Road maintenance
4. Power installation
5. Site tour.

0.Welcome remarks
The host welcomed everyone for coming and
assured everyone that they should feel at home.
They shared a briefly on why the farm is called
Dwii farms a shorted version of Dwillilo meaning
tshwelelopele.

1. *Purpose of the meeting*: The purpose of the

meeting was that we as farmers, have to take
Agriculture in our region to the next level. To help
produce enough food in Boteti and the whole
country at large. And come up with solutions to
problems that we are currently facing, which are
roads, power, market etc.

2. *Formation of association*: the formation will

make it easier for us to get assistance from the
government, and private sectors or companies.
All those who were present agreed with the idea
of association formation.
It was shared on this meeting that this
association will try to align to the existing
association so that they is no unhealthy
competition of resources like retail or ministry
services that may affect farmers in the region.
The idea is for this association to have an impact
in the region where we are concentrated I. E
Jimare, Tsutsuga, Kutitshaa e..t.c.
We expect to have a bigger association and have
clusteres feeding into the main one.

This comes as a result that for example farmers

around Letlhakane, Xhomo or Mokobaxane may
find power and roads utilities as a priority and
this may cause a slow down to other farmers
hence clusteres of associations may address
this challenge.
Some ideas shared worth noting is that with
proper structure the farmers may end up selling
to one central area with controlled pricing to
assist farmers when it comes to selling their
various product then retail shops will then have
to buy centrally from this areas.. In short
association present an opportunity to make the
voice of a farmer heard compared to a single
voice.

The quotation that we have in hand is P 2850,

that's the total cost of association formation, we
engaged a consultant to assist in this matter. We
were urged to liaise with the consultant going
forward so that he guides us on issues like:
association rules and regulations, annual returns
etc.

So we agreed to pop up P500 before the end of

next week Wednesday so that we fast track the
registration of association. Mr Abel will be
responsible for those money for now until we
finalize a committee. Starting from September ,
we now have to make P100 monthly
contributions for the association going forward
Account details to be shared on our WhatsApp
group. The P100 will be contributed starting on
the month of September once the association
has a bank account. Note that in the interim it
was agreed that we should be ready to pop out
agreed monies whilst awaiting the registration
process to drive some key things like distumping
and road issues as we approach the rain season

*Suggestions for the name is still at hold we will

all here come up with a name by Wednesday to
fast track registration process. Share names on
the WhatsApp group
3. *Road maintenance*: Develop sketch for the
affected farmers and have master plan. Also
come up with design standards on removal of
stumps (i.e engage with locals to do the
de-stumping). Koreans company could assist us
with gravel for the road according to
conversation had between them and one of our
members.

We should plan our road such a way that we do

not temper with fields of the community around
us, i.e, when commencing this exercise we must
consult the community around us. All
encouraged to engage the farmers in the area
about the purpose of our association and
oncoming activities.
We can request companies around to assist us
with machinery to clear the road.

The road from the tarred road along Makgabana

farm was given priority over the other alternative
road to Rra Makgabana Road looking at the
nature of natural ponds that may make it
expensive to maintain.
Priority for phase 1 of road maintenance was
given to this road and the road turning to the
Dennis/Kgaboitsile side.

Mr Dennis volunteered to asisit with a loader for

fetching the gravel, which means we just have to
fuel it. Mr Mchive also produced 5ton truck to
carry the gravel and fuel it as well. Also Mr
Mchive volunteered to bring in a surveyor to
sketch the road map.
 It is very much important to show up your
location so that we don't leave anyone outside
the sketch plan* share this with other farmers to
make the survey exercise a fruitful one.

The survey will assist with power application and

planning how the road can be maintained.

4. *Power Distribution or installation*: one of our

members once had a conservation with BPC
experts to sketch our area. So the proposed road
map that we want to make very soon will be used
as reference points for the BPC experts.

All farmers *must* apply for electricity in their

farms just to show how serious we are
concerning the connections. Door to door
consultation with neighborhood farmers is key
even those who are not in the association so that
they apply for electricity.

*All farmers to provide their names to Mr Mchive

for the surveyor including parties engaged

5 *Site tour*: Last but not least we toured Mr

Mchive's farm to benchmark on what he has so
far did. We learnt a lot.
Site visited :campsite, bed farm, horticulture
farm, small stock kraals, kitchen area, pool area
and min bar area and general farm area.

6. 1800hrs Closure and dinner by all

......... Pula, pula, pula.

Scribed by Laone Pelahalo

Reviewed by Dziilani Abel
30 August 2020