07 May 2017

About 50 per cent of Batswana are dependent on rain fed agriculture for their livelihoods, says Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Officially opening the Mosisedi Commercial Farmers harvest day on Saturday, Mr Masisi applauded the farmers for their efforts in meeting the objectives and expectations of the President’s flagship programmes.
Held under the Climate Smart Farming for Sustainable Arable Agriculture banner, Mr Masisi  said the theme was appropriate as it highlighted how the production of food needed to adapt to climate change in order to feed the growing population.
He noted that farmers across the country experienced adverse weather conditions that resulted in reduced production output.

He added that such output needed all to work together in finding new, efficient and eco-friendly ways of producing food through smart farming.
Vice President Masisi said government believed that farmers contribution and feedback would help improve agricultural policies and ensure prosperity for all.
He added that the support of government to the agricultural sector remained on course through various technical and financial assistance programmes.
“Government, with additional technical support from regional and global partners, has introduced the climate smart agriculture programme with the aim of improving agricultural productivity while reducing farmers’ vulnerability to climate change,’’ he said.
He urged farmers to embrace climate smart agriculture, arguing  that it promoted sustainable agricultural growth with increased output per hectare.

Mr Masisi also added that government was committed to meeting the objectives they set out in facilitating agricultural development.
The Vice President also noted that Mosisedi farmers were among those who had benefited from the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), adding that 18 farms were connected to electricity.
He encouraged the farmers to focus their investment efforts on sustainable agricultural practices that would help address the impact of climate change on crops.
The association comprises of 25 farmers who collectively till over 10 000 hectares of land.

Their efforts have contributed towards reducing poverty and creating employment through ESP as well as through the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) initiative, Masisi said.
China Ambassador to Botswana, Dr Zhao Yanbo said different parts of the world experienced floods and drought in the past few years due to climate change.
He said China and Botswana share similar positions on climate change issues which provided opportunities for cooperation with regard to agriculture.
He applauded the government’s commitment to the development of the agricultural sector.
 He said they have witnessed tremendous efforts being made to agricultural development in Botswana as illustrated in NDP11 and the President’s State-of-the-Nation Address. ENDS