08 May 2017

Assistant Minister of Agriculture Development and Food Security Mr Kgotla Autlwetse says Serowe Farmers Brigade will be renovated through economic stimulus programme (ESP).

In his keynote address at the institution, Friday, following the tour of the institution and subsequent motivational talk with the students, Mr Autlwetse said  the decision was born after a consultative meeting with the institution's management two years back at the realisation that the school infrastructure was dilapidated.

Mr Autlwetse said Serowe Farmers Brigade as one of the oldest institution, should be renovated and turned into a training and demonstration base for farmers, which would be beneficial to the community and Batswana at large.

When giving motivational talk, Minister Autlwetse appealed to students to venture into agricultural business despite some challenges in the sector.

He said  as a ministry, they had decided to consider agriculture as a business and also encourage students to take studies seriously, adding that it was the only solution for them to put food on the table.

Mr Autlwetse encouraged brigade trainees to use their vocational education and training skills to fend for themselves.

Mr Autlwetse said since 2008 the number of graduates in the database posed an insurmountable challenge in terms of absorption into the public service, taking into consideration the number of entry level vacancies and the present zero growth policy on the establishment.

Meanwhile the school principal, Mr Paul Mosimanegape expressed gratitude towards government for the facelift of his school.

He was also optimistic that the minister's visit will help map way forward for the institution.

He briefed the minister that the construction company was already on site and that mechanical, brick, electrical works, inter alia were still to be carried out at 17 houses.

Mr Mosimanegape sought more funds to extend livestock dairy and forestry section BOPA