15 Jun 2014

Pandamatenga continues to take the lead in improving food security in Botswana.

Speaking at the Chobe harvest day event in Pandamatenga recently, the Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing said this was despite the challenges the farmers faced such as flooding of fields this year due to heavy rainfalls. 

“This was evidenced by the 34 195 hectares planted this year, in which 31 895 hectares are for commercial farmers when compared to the 29 658 hectares planted last year.” said Dr Seakgosing.

He implored farmers to continue to strive for excellence and come up with new innovations that can be used to counteract the adverse impacts that often plague agricultural production.

The minister said government was embarking on a number of initiatives to address production challenges as a means of supporting farmers, among them construction of road network and drainage systems. 

He said consultations on the Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project are also on-going.  The project was intended to irrigate an area of about 35 000 hectares, drawing 495 million cubic metres of water from the Zambezi river. 

He further said that there is need for continuous improvement in all aspects of production in order for local goods to compete in the global market.

In her welcome remarks, Kgosi Rebecca Banika of Pandamatenga applauded the farmers for taking what they do seriously as farming is not a child’s play. She explained that 80 percent of the food consumed in Botswana comes from Pandamatenga farms adding that the farms elevate the status of her village and of the country because it is known beyond African borders.

For her part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Development Bank (NDB), Ms Lorato Morapedi thanked the Chobe Agricultural Show committee for having organized the event.

She said the show is appropriate for celebrating the historic association between the bank and the Chobe farmers, which dates back to as far as the 80s. 

Ms Morapedi also said it provides a platform for all stakeholders to discuss issues related to dry land farming and for them to map a way forward.

The NDB CEO pointed out that such gatherings with the farming community, serves as a platform for them to receive feedback as well as insights, which help them to develop and/refine products and services better suited for better assistance of this sector. 

She explained that as a bank, they have invested close to P70 million just on this ploughing season in Pandamatenga.

The events of the day were summed up by the signing of the memorandum of agreement as a way to formalize the relationship between the NDB and the Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association (PCFA). 

Prizes were also awarded to the best small scale and commercial farmers and the theme for the show was “Technology of Chobe, filling the Botswana Food Basket”. ENDS