02 Apr 2013

Government has put on hold implementation of the recommendations of Agriculture Infrastructure Development Strategy.

The recommendations were developed by Botswana Institute Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) in 2009 at an estimated cost of P5.2 billion.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi told Parliament recently that no funds had been set aside for implementation of the project during 2013/14 and for the remaining part of NDP 10.

He said his ministry had instead opted to set aside funds under recurrent budget to be used for spot improvement of agricultural roads.

Assistant Minister Molebatsi said in this regard, P3 million had been budgeted for each of the remaining years from 2013/14 to the end of NDP 10.

The minister further said MoA was working with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to utilise Ipelegeng labourers on agricultural activities such as opening up agricultural roads and erecting cluster fences. He said the ministry would continue using Ipelegeng programme where possible.

The minister was responding to a question asked by the Member of Parliament for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele, who had wanted to know the extent to which implementation of BIDPA infrastructure study had been budgeted for during the 2013/14 financial year and the remaining period of the NDP 10.

MP Makgalemele also wanted the minister to state the specifics of such budgets and explain why the study was undertaken in the first palace without a finance plan.

He had also asked the minister if he could negotiate with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development under Ipelegeng and the Ministry of Transport and Communications to assist as a short term measure. ENDS