18 Dec 2016

The Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, has commended the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for having identified grey water-use to address food security in Botswana.  

Speaking at the groundbreaking of Mahibitswane pilot waste water irrigation scheme in Palapye recently, the assistant minister said gone were the days when people had to wait for rainfall and irrigation was now the pillar of horticultural production year round.

The 25 hectares pilot waste water irrigation scheme project estimated at a tune of P7.52 million is expected to add to the diversity of investments to Palapye, which of late had been a destination of choice for variety of developments.

“Government and IFAD has made sure that infrastructural development are availed in Mahibitswane. I therefore challenge you to be committed to its operational requirements and management as this project is going to change your lives,” he said.

He further encouraged them to utilise the scheme fully adding that, this could only be fulfilled if they had an association that sees potential in the project and drives its vision.

“The ministry has some experts together with extension teams that can be used. To be SMART famers, listen and take their advice. This is your business, plan for it and devote your whole so as to create employment as well as feed the nation,” he said.

The Sabra Holdingproject manager Mr Ezekiel Chimbombi said it was their wish to finish handing over the projects within the stipulated period of four months as anticipated.

He emphasised that his company ensure that it produced a quality assurance project, which will be maintained for a period of a year after its completion.

He said they will also provide service center, processing room, offices and guard house. “Unfortunately the project has not created employment to the locals as it is machinery intensive than labour,” Mr Chimbombi said.

Giving vote of thanks Palapye Administrative Authority chairperson Mr Lesedi Phuthego said the country was at the cross road where by it is not able to absorb all graduates and other youth on white collar jobs. He said this was the time that they engage in farming for food production.

He said the government was investing more on farming hence the need for farmers to rise up to the challenges by exercising patience. ENDS