17 Aug 2016

The Minister of Agriculture Mr Patrick Ralotsia has warned would-be beneficiaries of the grey water project under the economic stimulus programme to commit towards crop production to help reduce import bill on horticultural products.

In an interview post tour of the project, Mr Ralotsia challenged Batswana who would be allocated plots in the facility to ensure its success.

“Whoever will be lent a plot here should be committed to produce,” said Mr Ralotsia.

The P16 million project at Radihemelo area, adjacent to water utilities corporation’s waste water plant, is constructed by a citizen owned company Lift Off that has employed 44 Batswana.

When completed the Ministry of Agriculture would advertise plots to Batswana whose intentions would be to produce horticultural produce with a view to feed the nation. It is amongst a host of other projects that occupies 4500 hectares of land nationwide.

“We don’t have sufficient food produced locally, save for beef,” said minister Ralotsia who added that the aim of establishing such facilities helps to reduce import bill on agricultural products.

Mr Ralotsia revealed that Botswana currently spends over P1 billion on importation of agricultural products and with such projects as the grey water ESP projects, money would circulate amongst Batswana.

Prior to the interview Mr Ralotsia urged the Lift Off company to complete the project in time urging them to desist from ‘the culture of failing to deliver projects in time.’

Mr Ralotsia said that failure to complete the projects would mean that the abundant grey water would not be put to good use.

“If we have water here and not using it then we are not responding to the needs of our people,” said the minister.

The projects consists construction of 44km roads in and around the plots, construction of ablutions, wetlands, erections of three kilometer pipe layout around the area and elevated tank fall under the department of crop production.

Upon its completion in November this year, the project will start production early next year following advertisement of plots. ENDS