01 Aug 2016

Young people have been advised to take part in agricultural shows to help boost the country’s economy and help curb unemployment.

This was said by renowned businessman and owner of Watershed Piazza Mall, Mr Seloma Tiro during Mahalapye Sub district agricultural show in Mahalapye on Saturday.

He said it was disheartening to see the youth lacking behind and not taking advantage of agricultural shows to market and promote their products and produce to the community.

He said they should stand up and take on every opportunity presented to them like fairs to come and exhibit their products, adding that the future of this country lies in their hands.

He explained that as young people they should know that for them to reap good results, they should take advantage of everything presented to them, use it to their benefit and consequently help develop the country and their constituencies.

Mr Tiro said one thing people should know was that business was not seasonal, but a way of living so people should know that every opportunity that present itself in front of them they should grab it and use it to their advantage.

He said they should also have creative minds, come up with new ideas, and expose them to their communities as this would also help develop the country as a whole.

Further, he advised the community in and around Mahalapye to seriously take advantage of the A1 road, adding that there were many business opportunities that they could use.

He said people around Mahalapye should know the good things that they could enjoy, especially that they were in the center of the country and along the busiest road in the country. He said they could really take that into their advantage, market themselves and help boost the country’s economy.

Mr Tiro also advised residents of Mahalapye and surrounding villages to standup, work together, share ideas and skills of how they could develop their region and their villages so that there were tangible and visible results.

On agriculture, Mr Tiro said the purpose of agricultural shows was evident that the agricultural sector has the ability to produce food which was both needed by the country and the people.

He said that was why government was giving it the support it needed as it was the only way it could protect and enhance national food security.

He noted that it was high time Batswana produce their own food and stop relying on other countries.

On other issues, Mr Tiro said there was need for change in the school curriculum, so that people could learn to change their behavior and attitude of having the dependency syndrome.

He said if school children could learn from young age that they should work hard and produce their own; the country could soon tap into this and reap the rewards of producing and probably exporting to other countries rather than always be importing food.

For his part, the chairperson of the organising committee, Mr Tsholofelo Nthaga said the show would not have been possible if it was not for government assistance and other stakeholders.

Mr Nthaga said Mahalapye village was a pioneer of agricultural shows, but over the years they have not as the shows have gone down, adding that even last year they did not have the fair.

He appealed to different stakeholders, residents of surrounding villages and the youth to come forth and revive the Mahalapye Sub District Agricultural Show.

He noted that the agricultural sector was the backbone of the economy, as it produced food and created employment to many, therefore it was everybody’s duty to ensure that it was a success.

However, he noted that the show was partly successful with minimal exhibitors, but this was due to drought, and assured attends that they hoped that next year would be different. ENDS