08 Mar 2015

The acting Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao has told Parliament that arable agriculture buffer zones along the international border have been considered.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Molao said studies were undertaken in Bobirwa Sub-district along the shared boundary parallel to Shashe River as well as along the Ramokgwebana River along the shared boundary in the North East District.

The study in Bobirwa, he said, indicated that the area parallel to Shashe river was more suitable for other farming uses other than arable agriculture on account of the soils, terrain and vegetation.

Considering the possible challenge by wildlife particularly elephants, the sustainability of any farms created along the area was in doubt, he added. He said in the North East area along the Ramokgwebana River, the study revealed that certain blocks of land could be used for arable agriculture.

The blocks of land suitable for arable production may therefore not form a continuous buffer zone, he said , adding that while the option of establishing a buffer zone made up of arable fields along the international border was appealing, and it would have significant socio-economic and political implications.

He said it therefore requires extensive consultations with the affected communities and various stakeholders.

He said such consultations have commenced with the relevant land board being Ngwato and Tati respectively.

“Further consultations with communities are to follow within the next financial year and hence it will be difficult to provide a definite answer at this stage as to when they will be concluded,” he said Tati West MP Mr Biggie Butale had asked if the  time has not come for an arable agricultural buffer zone to be created along the international borders in light of the continuous Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks ostensibly coming from Zimbabwe. ENDS