Nthatuoa Koeshe

FARMERS in Thaba-Tseka have called on the government to assist them in establishing market space for their produce to enable them to upscale their production.

The sentiments came out during a meeting between Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing ministers Keketso Sello and small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) operators in Thaba-Tseka last week.

The meeting was part of a nationwide tour that Mr Sello is conducting to understand the challenges that farmers are facing and see how best they can be assisted.

Among the issues raised by the farmers, they said they need slaughtering facilities and market spaces to sell their produce.

The absence of an open market for pork and poultry and slaughterhouses has hindered he growth of their businesses.

“We are forced to depend on our friends and families for markets and these are clients who cannot pay cash, so that has hindered the growth of our businesses,” Mosala Bereng, one of the farmers said.

Bokamoso Youth Cooperative, which produces motoho and yoghurt told the minister that they were operating from their homes and were desperately seeking working space.

“We are young and have no houses of our own, so we have asked our parents to allow us to operate from their homes. We however, need our own space where we can operate from,” Tselane Senkatake said.

Other small holder business operators said they also needed proper vending sheds because their makeshift sheds make the town look untidy.

For his part, Mr Sello said he was pleased with the initiatives that Thaba-Tseka SMMEs were undertaking although there were still some challenges. He said he would present the problems in parliament and give the farmers and business people feedback.

The involvement of youths was also good for continuity and sustainability.

“The inclusion of young people is good for the growth of these cooperatives as it will keep them going,” Mr Sello said.