06 Oct 2014

Agricultural research department has handed over an institutional backyard garden to Bothakga Primary School in its endeavour to support agriculture in the school’s curriculum.

Speaking at a hand over ceremony recently, district agricultural coordinator Mr Gwilizani Maposa said they moved to establish the garden to support and encourage agriculture in the school’s curriculum and practical concepts development.

He said their mandate is to ensure adequate supply of agricultural produce and as such they saw it fit to hand over the garden to raise awareness and interest of the agricultural sector at school level.

Mr Maposa further said they were also heeding to the President’s call that people and organisations should lend a helping hand to uplift livelihood of Batswana and in particular the lives of underprivileged ones to live a dignified life.

He said the setup of the garden is inclusive as the raised beds are accessible to those who use wheel chairs. “In line with the government ‘s initiative of promoting backyard gardening, we can only hope students and teachers utilize this initiative throughout their lives to the extent that more backyard gardens will be established at homes” he said.

Moreover, he encouraged the school management to ensure that students do not abandon the project but keep it flourishing. For her part, Dr Wameotsile Mahabile from Sebele Centre urged the school management and other critical stakeholders to work as a team to take care of the project for future use.

She said through the imparted skills and knowledge the students and teachers will be able to eradicate poverty in their lives since they will be able to sustain themselves through proceeds from their produce.

Meanwhile, Deputy School head Mr Desmond Ranko applauded Lobatse Agricultural research for their support and efforts in cultivating skill to both regular and students with special education needs.

He said the school is an inclusive setup with an enrollment of 698 learners amongst them 33 pupils are intellectual challenged. Mr Ranko commended the donor for embracing vision 2016 pillar of an educated and informed nation, adding they are living the vision.

He also applauded them for living another pillar of “A compassionate and caring nation”. Mr Ranko promised the donors that they will fully utilize the project for enhancing agricultural lessons.

He highlighted that the project is beneficial to them as it creates employment for Tirelo Setshaba participants who graduated form the same program in Bothakga School, produce will be used to secure funds for the school and also act as a retention strategy to certain students who have school phobia.

Earlier in his welcome remarks Kgosi Letsholo applauded the public servants for their diligence in serving the community. He said they are expertise in different fields and through that, the community will benefit more for the betterment of their lives. Ends