14 Nov 2016

The Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security says the on-going Masoke-Bakwenyana road project will capacitate farmers in the area to produce more.

Speaking during the launch of the road project at Gamogapinyana November 14, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said the 36 km stretch under construction could stimulate production in the area. He said the road also joined Kanye South and Mmathethe/Molapowabojang constituencies.

Mr Ralotsia explained that his ministry was of the view that linking up production areas with the markets through good coarse roads could enhance production.

He stressed that the project worth P3.9 Million was awarded through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) to Nulek(PTY)Ltd, a citizen owned company as a demonstration of government commitment to improving the livelihoods of Batswana and the agricultural sector regardless of location.

He said the road would enable farmers to reach the market on time, ferry equipment to the farms and keep up with the latest technologies which was a challenge in the past. He said the alternative route was narrow and double the distance.

Mr Ralotsia argued that, if farming was commercialised, more people could be engaged along the supply chain which in turn would enhance food production, alleviate unemployment and poverty down the line.

To this end, he challenged farmers along the route to exhibit that in the past they were indeed hamstrung by poor road infrastructure to become the best they could be in terms of production.

He shared that the Southern District alone was capable of producing enough food to feed the nation and sell surplus outside. Mr Ralotsia also informed farmers that the nation was the best grain producer by quality in the region, something he challenged them to maximise on.

However, Mr Ralotsia also Member of Parliament for the Kanye North constituency revealed that most of the allocated one million hectares of arable land across the nation was idle adding most of the food  was still produced from outside, but be warned that “there shall come a time when such nations will produce only enough for themselves.”

Mr Ralotsia furthermore challenged the contractor Ms Thato Lekone to finish the project within time and budget. He said the project was due to be completed on December 31. He raised concern that most of the projects awarded to citizen owned companies usually overshot time and budget.

MP for Kanye South Mr Abram Kesupile expressed delight that the long envisioned road project was actualising. He said the road started as a foot path during the reign of the late Kgosi Bathoen II but was later widened through self-help. He said Kgosi Bathoen had also requested for the road to be done during his tenure as Member of Parliament for the Kanye constituency.

He encouraged farmers to use it with caution to avoid causing accidents adding some were already dumping litter on the sides.

Kgosi Kebapetse Telekelo had in his welcome remarks thanked government for the project adding nonetheless that it should be maintained on a regular basis after completion.

Farmers’ committee spokesperson Mr Gaopalelewe Morebodi said the road would substantially reduce the distance farmers used to travel to sell their produce to the market.

For her part, Ms  Lekone said the project was delayed by rains and now at 60 per cent completion but vowed to round it off on time. BOPA