12 Jul 2018

Mokubilo Maine Integrated horticultural farm, which is sponsored by Lundin foundation and Karowe mine at the tune of over P1.3 million has been officially laqunched on Tuesday .

Speaking at the project launch workshop at Mokubilo kgotla, Lundin Foundation senior manager Mr Babatshi Gasha said the residents proposed to be assisted with development of the farm to make it sustainable and produce better returns, hence the involvement of the foundation and the mine.

He noted that the horticulture project, which is owned by the community, is intended to reduce unemployment in the area, avail nutritious food in the region to curb the malnutrition cases as well as an increment of Botswana food basket through agricultural production in Mokubilo.

He said their efforts were in line with government efforts to grow the country’s agriculture and food security sector and wish to see the farm becoming a trademark and being an exemplary to other villages.

The farm is located five kilometres from the village.

He thanked the ministry of agriculture and other stakeholders for the support of the project.

A consultant from Kungo Farms, Ms Beauty Manake explained that the horticultural project would specialise in vegetables production, eggs and broilers.

She said the farm would be run and managed by the community and it would create 10 permanent jobs.

Additionally, she said the horticultural project would benefit Mokubilo and surrounding areas in many ways such as meeting the vegetable market demands in the area, creating employment and encouraging affordability for the consumers by availing food in the region.

Ms Manake said the project, which was expected to be fully functional by next month, would be done in phases.

For his part, Mokubilo Kgosi, Mr Badigeng Resetse expressed gratitude about the gesture of Lundin Foundation in collaboration with Karowe mine saying the farm would benefit the village in so many ways.

He said the farm was a permanent structure that would be used by the whole community and neighbouring settlements even by the generations to come.

He however noted that though the good deeds encouraging the community should not forget the elephants that were terrorising and destroying farms, and as such should try find solution to such challenges.

Boteti Assistant District commissioner, Mr Ewetse Selelo pointed out that the project would come in handy in future as it would be used by students for educational practicals.

Mr Selelo urged residents of Mokubilo to work together as a team to make the project a success, adding that they should be patient because the projects may not make profits at the beginning.

He thanked Karowe mine and Lundin foundation for their participation in rural development, which is the main focal point of the government. ENDS