28 Jun 2013

The majority of Batswana rely on agriculture, according to the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi.

Officiating at a two-day consultative workshop with farmers association on June 26, Minister Molebatsi said agriculture played a leading role in Botswana’s socio-economic development.

He said agriculture was still providing the largest amount of livelihood for about 80 per cent of population, adding that in spite of all these, the total GDP accounted by the sector was about three per cent.

The minister said a large area of the country was covered by sandy soils and that the country was prone to drought. Assistant Minister Molebatsi also explained that recently government introduced cluster farming to promote information sharing resulting in the improvement in technology adoption through farm demonstration, field days, radio programmes, and simplified publications.

“Often farmers find othes to be the best reference and support for change. They learn most by watching what new ideas are being tried on their neighbours field, hence the reason to introduce cluster farming”, he added.

Assistant Minister Molebatsi explained that his ministry was committed to the enhancement of productivity in the agricultural sector adding that in order to meet the demands of the present time, the ministry recently reorganised its functions and operations.

He said the services of the ministry were therefore being extended and improved in such a way that every farmer could come within the sphere of activity of its extension workers, hence the establishment of 10 district agricultural demonstrating officers.

On other issues, Mr Molebatsi spoke about the value and importance of row planting and blamed some tractor owners who allegedly encouraged seed broadcasting because they refused to provide planters.

He said failure by tractor owners to use planters continued to encourage crop farmers to broadcast their seeds against their will. He said some tractor owners even went to the extent to tell crop farmers that row planting programme was for the rich. ENDS