31 Mar 2016

The Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) was introduced in the 2008/09 financial year and has since spent P2 335 138 616.14

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said the government introduced the programme to stimulate food production using latest agricultural technologies, noting that their adoption has increased with time.

He said these include row planting, use of fertilizers and herbicides, and the establishment of agricultural service centres. He added that the return on investment by the programme was positive.

Minister Ralotsia further noted that before the inception of ISPAAD in 2008/09, total crop production recorded was 55 000 tonnes. He said the total crop production has since improved over the years and even reached 396 000 tonnes in 2013/14. 

He said the number of people engaged in crop production also increased from 31 000 before the inception of ISPAAD to 127 511 in 2013/14. However, he said due to the drought, crop production and the total number of people engaged declined during this cropping season. “That notwithstanding, some beneficiaries do not use inputs appropriately and abandon their fields,” he said.

The MP for Gaborone North, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa had asked the minister how much had been spent on ISPAAD from inception to date. He also asked whether the government was happy with the return on investment by the programme and how it had performed in the respective years since inception. ends