22 Jun 2014

Gone are the days when Batswana did farming for subsistence purposes only as farming plays a pivotal role in the economy of the country.

The current situation where 80 per cent of food is imported is not sustainable, hence government came up with several initiatives aimed at encouraging commercial farming. The Kgatleng District agribusiness officer, Ms Emang Orapeleng said her department provided agribusiness advice to farmers.

Ms Orapeleng said the Department of Agribusiness Promotions existed to help farmers’ commercialise and make a living from their produce while at the same time creating jobs.

Farmers could work in their farms and be able to help government eradicate poverty through undertaking concerted efforts aimed at improving their livelihoods. “This at the same time helps spearhead government’s intention of eradicating poverty as farmers can now stand on their own,” she said.

She added that through her department, the government wants to promote a commercialised, diversified, sustainable and competitive agricultural sector through business skills transfer, market access negotiations, and promotion of agricultural cooperatives and associations.

In collaboration with extension officers for the crops and livestock sub-sectors, agribusiness promotion officers help farmers improve their productivity.

The Department of Agribusiness Promotions also encourages farmers to form agricultural management associations, and it helps them to write business plans. The agricultural management associations also get help to develop their constitutions.

Ms Orapeleng said the agricultural management groups were made up of not less than five members whom they help to develop a constitution. She expressed worry that Batswana were not willing to form agricultural management associations because individuals preferred to work alone. ENDS