07 Dec 2017

Minister of Investment Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse has urged farmers to join cooperative societies as they can benefit greatly from them.

Mr Seretse said these when launching the Kweneng North Horticultural Farmers Marketing Cooperatives Society (KNHF Co-op) in Lentsweletau recently. 

He said the cooperative society encouraged the spirit of togetherness and unity among farmers, adding that when farmers are part of a cooperative society they stood a better chance to win battles they faced on their daily farming experiences.

Minister Seretse said although he was informed that since the inception of the KNHF Co-op back in 2015 they have faced numerous challenges that almost dissolved the society, some of the members persevered and made it what it is today.

“This clearly shows that there is also commitment from the members of the cooperative society. Their commitment has led to a lot of achievements as Lentsweletau area is known for producing quality harvest,” he said.

He also encouraged horticultural farmers to empower themselves with their rights and as well as being in a better position to make well informed decision concerning their businesses.

“We encourage you as horticultural farmers to treat your farming as a business since it contributes to poverty eradication as it creates jobs.

This can only be possible if you are all armed with the spirit of enterprising” said Mr Seretse.

Brazilian Ambassador, Mr Ricardo Andre Vieira Diniz, commended the KNHF Co-op for maintaining a good working relationship with the Brazilian embassy.

“We have been working well with this cooperative society. This is evident in the sense that we took some members of their society for benchmarking in Brazil so as to expose them to the life of farmers back in Brazil. They will in turn share their experiences and knowledge with local farmers so as to develop the very same sector that has the potential to diversify the economy” stated Mr Diniz.

Mr Diniz commended farmers who are part of the cooperative society for making sure that they keep the cooperative functional stating that they should look in introducing such initiative across the whole country.

“Farmers across the country should be part of such cooperatives as they are very much essential to their farming lives,” concluded Mr Diniz. ENDS