30 May 2016

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has commended employees within his ministry and parastals for giving their best in developing the country’s future farmer.

Speaking during the ministry’s awards held at Majestic Five Hotel in Palapye, Mr Autlwetse said despite the limited resources such as transport and other variables, these officers always went an extra mile to ensure that Batswana received services to improve their livelihoods.

He congratulated all award winners for their distinguished and sterling performance and urged all employees to put in their best for achievement of food security.

He said the agricultural sector had been identified as one of the sectors which have potential for significant economic growth, adding that attainment of such called for a diligent workforce.
Food security, he said was a high priority in the country’s economic development agenda.

However, he said the agricultural sector was faced with increasing food import bill as a result of low production at farm level, adding “as a country we are having a deficit in some commodities.”
He said the country’s annual demand for milk was estimated to be P65 million litres, but annual local production currently stood at 4.9 million litres.

In addition, he said the national demand for horticultural produce is 90 000 metric tonnes, but the country was able to produce 47.5 metric tonnes during 2014/15 and 48 metric tonnes during 2015/16.
“We must do more to meet the demand,” he said.

Mr Autlwetse further called on the private sector and other stakeholders to continue their role in addressing the several challenges that confronted agricultural specialists in their effort to give their best.
He urged employees to also take advantage of several opportunities for research, continuous education and self-development to sharpen their skills in these times of continuous change.

“This way you will always remain relevant and will be in a better position to impart latest agricultural technologies and relevant knowledge to farmers.
For his part, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Boipolelo Khumomatlhare raised concern over issues of poor supervision particularly at the districts.

He said the ministry has lost some of the supplies materials at the districts because of poor supervision.
He urged employees to enhance supervision and address issues of late payment of suppliers or contractors, over payment of retired and resigned officers as well as payment of deceased employees.

Mr Michael Manowe an attaché at Geneva, Switzerland was awarded employee of the year, walking home with P4 500.
Under MoA parastatals, Dr Moatlhodi Kgosimore from Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources was awarded employee of the year. Ends