24 Jun 2014

Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) has been commended for partnering with the National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC) to help horticultural farmers and diversify the region’s economy.

Selebi Phikwe mayor, Mr Tebogo Matlhogonolo said this during the SPEDU/NFTRC open day recently.  Mr Matlhogonolo said when SPEDU was first introduced some years ago, they doubted if it would bear any positive fruits for their region.

He noted that SPEDU went through some challenges which it eventually overcame, adding that its partnership with NFTRC was indeed a “light at the end of the tunnel” for Selebi Phikwe’s horticulturalists.

Mr Matlhogonolo cited SPEDU and BCL as critical stakeholders in the town’s economy adding that the collaboration between SPEDU and NFTRC would be another good direction for the town’s economic diversification.

Furthermore, he urged the nation to support local businesses and also challenged farmers to learn more about the horticulture business from the experts in order to improve their businesses.

For his part, SPEDU’s acting coordinator, Mr Pako Kedisitse said the food processing plant in Selebi Phikwe was funded by the Office of the President to kick start the project. They bought the plant machine and the dryer and “we are hopeful that we will also get the mixer next month,” he said.

This initiative, he said, was triggered by the high losses incurred by horticulturalists, adding that the project will reduce the post-harvest losses. It will also provide farmers with a market for their products and encourage more Batswana to venture into horticulture leading to more production, he said.  

Mr Kedisitse said they partnered with NFTRC because they have the same goal and mandate of diversifying Botswana’s economy, adding that NFTRC will provide expertise aadvice regarding quality and standard of products to be produced at Horticulture Produce Processing Plant and also assist in setting up the plant. ENDS