22 Sep 2014

Citizen Entrepreneurship Development Agency (CEDA) chief executive officer, Mr Thabo Thamane has decried low prices paid out to farmers for their produce by Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB).

Mr Thamane said at the official opening of Kanngwe kgotla shelter in on September 17 that BAMB prices should tally with farmers’ investment during ploughing. On one hand, he indicated that hectorage prerequisite clause imposed on farmers was not created by his organisation but was advice from experts.

That, he explained, followed complaints by Kanngwe Farmers Committee chairperson, Mr Mosimanegape Balesamang who stated that huge tracts of land required to access loans from CEDA; something he said made life difficult especially for small farmers who did not possess such land.

Mr Balesamang had earlier suggested that CEDA should consider assisting small farmers based on the land that they had because the standing policy was not paying any dividends but side-lining the latter. As a result, Mr Thamane advised Kanngwe farmers to form an association and lobby government.

“I do not remember seeing a committee from this area in our many meetings we have had with farmers committees from across the country,” he said adding negative development has had a negative bearing on farming in the area.

Chinese Ambassador, Mr Zheng Zhuqiang said he was humbled by Kanngwe residents’ keen interest to forge mutual relationship with the Chinese Embassy.

He commended residents for adhering to the principle of self-reliance by constructing themselves a kgotla shelter, a place where they can converge and discuss pertinent issues affecting them.

Mr Zhuqiang therefore urged residents of Kanngwe to earnestly take to farming and become an agricultural hub.

“Your area as fertile as it is has the potential to become agricultural hub and ensure the country’s food security and self-sufficiency,” he said.

Ms Oteng Mogotsi from Seed-Co relayed to farmers that her company would facilitate a one stop shop during the next farming season by availing seeds in Mmathethe.ENDS