22 Feb 2018

Government has completed the construction of three agricultural service centres in Jwaneng, Tonota and Parakarungu. Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, who was answering a parliamentary question on behalf of Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, said the Jwaneng and Tonota service centres were operational and were selling agricultural inputs to farmers.

Mr Molefhi said the Parakarungu service centre was initially offered to Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) to run but had since returned the facility citing non-viability. He said expression of interests were being vetted to look for an alternative investor. Minister Molefhi added that three more agricultural service centres were being constructed and were at different stages of implementation.

In addition, he said for the current financial year, three service centres were under construction in Sefhare, Mmathethe and Gumare. The MP for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile had asked the minister to apprise Parliament on the status of the agricultural service stations. Ends