16 Nov 2017

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia has hailed locals for creating partnerships with foreign entrepreneurs to start income generating projects.

He made the remarks after touring a horticulture farm in Nxaraga, which is owned by Mr Losika Molefhe who partnered with Mr Johann Bezuidenhout.

The duo kick started the project in 2015 with an aim and to provide the country with farm products and also create employment for the locals.

They had ploughed Lucerne, sugar beans, bananas and mangoes.

However, he said their partnership was a welcome development and that it was motivation to other locals to see how best they could utilise their fields to benefit better.

Mr Ralotsia encouraged other locals to emulate that practice in order produce enough food for the country and sell the surplus.

“This project is a welcome development in the right direction in the sense that looking at the type of soil we have we only use it for crop production not fruit tree and what I saw  today was so inspiring,” he said.

Further, he advised the youth to venture into farming since it was the doorway to better not only their living but the country's economy.

Currently, the farm has created employment for eight employees on permanent basis.

The owners are intending to increase the number to 300 next year March during the harvesting season.

One of the co-owners, Mr Bezuidenhout said from the 500 hectares of the farm, they had only used 200 hectares and the remaining 300 hectares was still in the process of being de-bushed for use.

He further said the project was unique as they were not into crop production only but into fruit trees since fruits were a long term investment.

He appealed to government and private institutions to support them so that they impart business skills to those who may need it in future.

Mr Molefhe, who is the owner of the farm said before he partnered with Mr Bezuidenhout, he used to plough using donkeys.

He revealed that partnering with other entrepreneurs has good rewards and advised Batswana to stop selling their land but rather rent so that they benefit.

Furthermore he revealed that they intend to change the farms into agro-tourism in the future. BOPA