30 Jul 2017

Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) chief executive officer, Mr Edson Woto has implored the Tonota show committee to turn the show into a business opportunity.

Speaking at the Tonota Agricultural Show on Saturday, Mr Woto urged the committee to utilise the showground to generate income throughout the year instead of using it once a year for the event.

He encouraged exhibitors to use the show as a platform for information sharing and not just focus on winning prizes.

“Exhibitors should showcase their talent and innovation and at the same time come up with ways of how the show can be transformed to become a business,” he said.

He said since farming was considered a business, land boards should look into giving farmers bigger portions of land to enable them to go commercial.

He said farmers should also try to overcome challenges and plough, not only for their consumption, but for their neighbours as well as to meet the country’s food demand.

Mr Woto donated P10 000 to the show committee.

Earlier, the show committee chairperson, Mr Motshegetsi Masoba said they failed to hold the show last year owing to challenges such as lack of resources.

He noted that the committee’s account had over P90 000, but could not access the funds as the account was frozen.

Mr Masoba said the committee needed close to P25 000 for this year’s show, and had to dig from their pockets while other stakeholders also assisted.

He, however, explained that they were in the process of registering and meeting the requirements of accessing the bank account.

Mr Masoba appealed to the community, government departments and other stakeholders to support and assist the committee in ensuring that the sub district’s show grew into a bigger event.

He said some of the committee’s achievements were that they managed to register and acquire a certificate for the 17 hectare show ground, and that they had drafted the committee’s constitution.

Councillor Thatayaone Moreng thanked BAMB for the P10 000 donation and stated that the show committee had a vision of transforming the show ground and erecting structures that could attract the youth.

The theme for the show was: Practising smart agriculture to combat the effects of climate change.

Earlier, the show committee chairperson, Mr Motshegetsi Masoba said they failed to hold the show last year owing to challenges such as lack of resources.

He noted that the committee’s account had over P90 000, but could not access the funds as the account was frozen.

Mr Masoba said the committee needed close to P25 000 for this year’s show, and had to dig from their pockets while other stakeholders also assisted.

He, however, explained that they were in the process of registering and meeting the requirements of accessing the bank account.

Mr Masoba appealed to the community, government departments and other stakeholders to support and assist the committee in ensuring that the sub district’s show grew into a bigger event.

He said some of the committee’s achievements were that they managed to register and acquire a certificate for the 17 hectare show ground, and that they had drafted the committee’s constitution.

Councillor Thatayaone Moreng thanked BAMB for the P10 000 donation and stated that the show committee had a vision of transforming the show ground and erecting structures that could attract the youth.

The theme for the show was: Practising smart agriculture to combat the effects of climate change.ENDS