30 Jul 2017

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia has informed Parliament that his ministry is in the process of reticulating surface water from Boteti River to identified and agreed livestock watering points along the Makgadikgadi fence.

Mr Ralotsia said boreholes would be drilled at strategic points to be used when the river dries up.

He said some existing government boreholes that belong to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks will also be connected.

He said the project is planned for completion end of September 2017.

He further said local farmers have been consulted extensively to identify the watering points.

He said most of the watering points were placed at existing communal cattle crushes.  He said 16 watering points have been identified and that distances between the watering points were determined by the availability of semi-permanent surface water and the cattle crushes.

He further stated that the whole project stretches over a distance of 110km with an average distance of 6.8km between watering points.

He said the ministry has no plans to maintain the watering points/boreholes.

He said once complete, the sites shall be handed over immediately to farmers’ groups in the respective catchment areas to operate and maintain.

Mr Ralotsia was responding to question from specially elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo who had asked  the minister when the boreholes to compensate Boteti farmers for yielding to the Makgadikgadi wildlife fence will be drilled.

She also asked what measures were used to decide on the distance between the boreholes and how long the boreholes will be maintained by the ministry. ENDS