14 Jul 2014

Farmers in Polokabatho have been informed that government will soon create economic cluster zones across the country in an effort to help the economy stay atop.

The director of the agricultural hub, Ms Mmadima Nyathi said the cluster concept could benefit Botswana a lot because areas that did well in a certain economic product will be accorded an opportunity to spearhead such a product with government acting as a facilitator.

Speaking at the beef field day on July 10, Ms Nyathi said beef played an important role in the economy and areas where there was high production of cattle would be clustered so that concentration of assistance will be around that area.

The director further said Vision 2016 would soon be coming to an end hence government had started to think beyond 2016 and the cluster concept will come handy in mapping the way forward.

She added entities would be clustered according to their geographical areas and the concept is private sector driven while government will only act as a facilitator.


She stated that members within that location must have an interest in what they do and in the case of beef; they will include farmers, suppliers, transport service providers, academia and others.

She said the cluster concept is export based and since it includes all value chain players there will be immense benefit from working together towards a common goal.

Ms Nyathi also said since members of the cluster will be working together, farmers will benefit by sourcing inputs, accessing external market, research that support their product, and speaking with one voice which will be heard by policy makers.

She said because certain areas are suitable for certain products, the agro ecological zones will assist farmers accordingly.

The director implored farmers to be ready for such clusters as their aim is to develop Botswana looking into the future. The good part about this cluster is that, the private sector will take the lead while government will provide support.

She said the decision for cluster zones comes after government undertook a diagnostic study carried out by Professor Michael Porter of the Bishop William Lawrence University with reference to Botswana Excellence Strategy for Economic Dthi said it will not only be beef that will be looked at, but other economic products which include tourism, mining, financial services and others. Ends