24 Mar 2015

Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo Dams were constructed for portable water only and such water cannot be shared with irrigated agriculture.

The acting Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said this when answering a parliamentary question on March 22.

Mr Ralotsia said his ministry had consulted Ngwato Land Board who advised that land for horticultural projects had not been planned for around the dams. He also said Water Utilities Corporation had advised his ministry that water from Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo dams supplied the southern parts of the country and could not be shared with irrigated agriculture.

The acting minister said unlike Thune and Lotsane dams, there were no plans to consider irrigation activities at the dams. Regarding allocation of horticultural projects in the periphery of Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo dams, Mr Ralotsia said that would not help since there would not be water available for irrigation.

He however said, the agro- processing plant in Selebi Phikwe would create employment would be supplied by projects in the SPEDU region, namely Bobonong sub-district, Selebi Phikwe and the surrounding areas as well as Tuli Block.

Mr Ralotsia said other areas such as Tonota /Shashe horticulture cluster would supply the agro- processing plant.

Parliament was also informed that plans were in place to develop horticultural production in the areas around the agro- processing plant catchment and a consultant had been engaged to survey the soils and water along the Shashe and Motloutse rivers for irrigation agriculture purposes.

The Member of Parliament for Mmadinare, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila had asked the minister if he did not consider it commercially viable and employment creation for Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo Dams to have irrigation components for horticultural projects in a similar manner as Thune Dam which has an irrigation component.

Mr Mzwinila had also wanted to know if the land on the periphery of Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo Dams could be allocated to horticultural farms in order to create employment and supply horticultural produce to Agro Processing and Packaging plant in Selibe Phikwe. ENDS