23 Aug 2018

Glen Valley Horticulture Incubator celebrated the successful completion of a nine-months intensive incubation programme for the 42 trainees who were equipped with skills to successfully maintain their enterprises.

The graduates completed training in December 2017 and June 2018 and were exposed to various production methods under greenhouses, tunnels and net shades.

Speaking at Glen Valley Incubator awards ceremony recently, Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) chief executive officer, Dr Racious Moatshe said the graduates were also equipped with business management skills that would enable them to function on their own post the incubation.

“The current cohort of graduates will join the production space with zeal and utmost commitment and they will in turn yield quality output that will be absorbed in the high market,” Dr Moatshe said.

He urged the graduates to rise to the occasion to survive challenges with the comfort that LEA would always be ready to support them.

“I take this opportunity to thank Stanbic Bank Botswana who has sponsored these awards for the best performing trainees over the past three training cycle,” he said.

He said the incubation had to date produced over 150 graduates who were currently engaged in production countrywide.

For his part, Stanbic Bank Botswana head of enterprises banking, Mr Onkabetse Morapedi said the event paid homage to entrepreneurs in the horticulture sector, recognising their hard work and dedication and the role they played in job creation thus helping to grow Botswana economy.

He said graduates have empowered themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge of how to successfully run and maintain their enterprises.

Mr Morapedi said graduates could now sustain their businesses as a result of the practical experience of what enterprise management entailed and best industry practices.

“Having been exposed to different technologies like greenhouse and drip irrigation, that improve the output of the horticulture commodities, they are equipped to make a significant difference in the horticulture sector,” he said.

He noted that in driving Botswana growth, Stanbic Bank saw the need to invest and contribute to key areas of the economy that support diversification.

Mr Morapedi said the collaboration with LEA spoke to their values as the bank and they were truly committed to helping Batswana move forward by facilitating an environment that fostered growth and success. ENDS