27 Mar 2018

Parliament has been informed that the current value of the Price Stabilisation Fund is P9 017 668.

Responding to a question in Parliament by Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni,the Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said since the fund was established it has never been used as the need to use it has never risen.

He also said the grain prices for maize per tonne is P2 100, millet is P3 000 while sorghum stands at P2 550 and has not been influenced by the fund in any way.

He further said the Price Stabilisation Fund does not rely on subventions and there are no other levies that remit into the fund as it relies on money allocated by the government and the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board from time to time.

MP Shamukuni had wanted the minister to state the current value of the fund, indicate the last time it was used to serve the operational objective for which it was created for, as well as to give an update on this cropping season’s pricing and how the fund influenced this year’s grain purchase and if the fund solely relies on subventions or there are other levies that remit into the fund. ENDS