14 Sep 2017

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has bid farewell to 35 Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) students who will be on a 11- months agriculturure practical training in Israel.

Speaking at the sending off ceremony on Wednesday, President Khama hailed the bilateral relation that existed between the countries of Botswana and Israel highlighting that the two countries also had similar climatic conditions which were characterised by very low and erratic rainfall.

He said even though the two countries had similar climatic conditions, Botswana could learn from Israel in terms of utilisation of technology to enhance agricultural production for both consumption and commercial basis.  He therefore remained optimistic that the student exchange programme would benefit Botswana in adopting modern farming techniques used in Israel. 

Moreover, he said that “the exchange programme would impact knowledge and development of a critical mass of graduates with advanced skills in agricultural production under desert conditions.”

He urged students to be good ambassadors upon their arrival in Israel and demonstrate high levels of disciple and respect that Batswana were known for. 

President Khama, who is also BUAN chancellor emphasised the importance of BUAN towards improving the agricultural sector in the country.

 He said government had under National Development Plan 11 identified agriculture as a vehicle for economic development and diversification hence the continued investment on agricultural programmes like ISPAAD and NAMPAADD. 

Government, he said had pledged to transform the agricultural sector by improving production in both the crop and animal sector through commercialisation in order to improve food security. 

For his part, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia stated that Botswana was challenged in achieving food self sufficiency primarily due to frequent drought conditions, expressing hope that the enrollment of BUAN students in the exchange programme would assist to remedy the problem as students would learn how best to produce agricultural products in desert conditions using advanced technology.

 Minister Ralotsia   implored the trainees to work hard in transforming the agricultural sector as they were granted the opportunity to work with the state of art technology that Israel had to offer in securing sufficient food security. ENDS