09 Aug 2017

Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency chief executive officer, Mr Thabo Thamane says the agency will review its relationship with Serowe District Show with a view to improve it in future.

The three-year relationship, where CEDA attained the main sponsor of the show, started in 2015 and elapses this year hence the move to review it.

Speaking at the show recently, Mr Thamane said he would not announce the sponsorship deal but, would do so after meeting with the show committee.

He observed that the committee had grown the show to a level where it would soon acquire international status and attract all kinds of exhibitors and farmers from all over the region.

The CEDA boss said his agency was committed to agribusiness and recognised that agriculture played an important role in reducing the number of people living in poverty and extreme hunger.

Mr Thamane revealed that in 2015/16 financial year, CEDA funded about 100 agribusinesses to the value of P110 million.

“This is despite the fact that the country was at the time, experiencing the worst drought ever in more than three decades,” said Mr Thamane.

He said the majority of the investment in the 2015/16 year was for improvement of technology used by farmers to mitigate against the effects of drought as well as working capital.

In 2016/17 when the country enjoyed good rains, CEDA assisted about 120 agri-businesses with over P150 million to take advantage of the abundant rainfall.

At the same event the show committee chairperson, Mr Keletso Rakhudu gifted President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama with a cow that would be delivered to him in due course.

The gift was meant to encourage the President in his farming endeavors.

Mr Rakhudu credited President Khama for charting the way and supporting efforts towards food production and security.

The chairperson was upbeat that the district show would live forever after being resuscitated in 2015 in partnership with CEDA.

He credited his committee for working tirelessly to ensure they delivered a show to remember though many praised him for its success.

Mr Rakhudu also commended the farmers for making the show a success. ENDS