04 Jun 2014

Residents of Lobatse have challenged the envisioned university of agriculture and natural resources to come up with training programmes that would contribute meaningfully to the economy of the nation.

Speaking during a consultative meeting in Lobatse recently, one of the residents, Mr Ellias Rantleru said practical rather than theory based programmes would add value and touch many lives.

Mr Rantleru expressed disappointment that although the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) had a better share of professional doctors, compared with other ministries, their contribution was almost invisible.

He said the education with production kind of approach would benefit the economy all the more if the university could adopt it. Another speaker, Mr David Relemogeng also decried that MoA still engaged foreign consultants although undeniably endowed with academics.

Thus, he also challenged the new university to depart from theory based training programmes to practice. However, Mr Solly Diphoko was optimistic that the development would enable the institution to offer profound research based courses that would go a long way to change the landscape of the economy.

Meanwhile a youthful resident Mr Mpho Disebo complained that with a Basic Livestock Farming Course obtained from a Technical College, Botswana College of Agriculture could not enrol him for further studies.

Disebo thus challenged the new university to offer Agriculture based students from Technical Colleges progression.

Earlier on in her brief, BCA head of delegation Mrs Boingotlo Sebolai said the development would enable the institution to attract quality lecturers and increase student intake from 3000-5000 thus reducing government expenditure on foreign institutions.

Sebolai also argued that as an autonomous institution, the university would be able to support government programmes like ISPAAD, LIMID and NAMPAAD through technical support.

She further explained that the move would also enable them to take proper care of natural resources. ENDS