19 May 2016

Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) chief executive officer, Mr Peter Woto, has urged Batswana farmers attending the NAMPO agricultural show in Bothaville, South Africa to network with their more experienced South African counterparts. 

BAMB sponsored eight Batswana to the renowned NAMPO show.Mr Woto said in pursuit of safe and sustainable farming, there was need for partnerships to enable farm operators to produce food. 

He said there were numerous challenges in the agricultural sector that could be overcome by concerted efforts from stakeholders. He said farmers should focus more on understanding the sector because that would enable them to realise their potential.   

Mr Woto said shows such as NAMPO could boost farmers’ confidence.He urged them to learn as much as they could so that they could share their experiences with those who did not make it to the show as his organisation could only sponsor a few of them.   

Mr Woto told farmers that his intentions were to lure some farming machinery companies to set up in Botswana so that Batswana farmers could buy the equipment and have it serviced easily through BAMB branches.

One of the farmers, Mr Sesimanyana  Matlho of Kanye said the show was an eye opener.He said he would call his association to share with them what he learnt as soon as he gets home. The crop and animal production farmer said what drew his attention most was the kind of machines displayed at the show. 

He said although a lot of them were expensive, he would encourage farmers back home to work in groups in order for them to afford them.  

Farmers were drawn from Kanye, Good Hope, Mosesedi, Jwaneng, Molepolole, Serowe Central, Tswapong North and Totuma while one from the Pandamatenga area could not make it. ENDS