04 Aug 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama is expected to, on Thursday August 6, officially open the National Agricultural Show in Gaborone .

The show started on Monday (August 3) and will run until August 9.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia, told the media recently that the ministry was hoping to sensitise farmers about the effects of climate change.

He urged the farming community to change and adopt farming practices that could mitigate the effects of climate change.

The minister said exhibits would include, among other things, livestock and crops.

The public relations officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Geoffrey Pheko said they expected a high turn- out especially on the livestock sector, as many young farmers had brought forth their livestock, something which he said, had forced them to extend the the show kraals to accommodate the high number of livestock.

Mr Pheko said regarding the crops sector, the high quality of crops was on display despite lack of good rains.  

Mr Pheko said origins of exhibits could be traced since they all started from the district shows under the watchful eye of their village extension staff and therefore he said there was no how crops from outside the country could be brought in.

There will be a horse race and people were encouraged to attend in large numbers as the charges would be minimal. 

Children would pay P10 and adults P20 while private vehicles would be charged P30 to get in. 

Mr Pheko said the ministry of transport had also created a route that would be running between the National Agricultural Show Ground and the city to ease movement of the community. Ends