25 Sep 2018

Government, through assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has taken the decision to resuscitate the Setshaba project which aims to promote agricultural entrepreneurship amongst the youth.

The Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) project was established in 1998 and suspended when the organisation underwent structuring. The project aimed to train and mentor youth so that they could venture into agricultural enterprise and contribute to food security in the country.

Giving the background of the project, BNYC chief programme officer, Ms Emang Seabo explained that the project was born 20 years ago and came as an economic empowerment concept aimed to assist young people.

She said through the project they wanted to cultivate the spirit of agricultural entrepreneurship amongst the youth so that they could contribute meaningfully towards food security in the country.

She said they resuscitated the project as an incubator, and that they trained the youth in small stock, piggery, poultry, bee keeping and horticulture with the hope that they would develop interest and venture into business projects.

The project will be implemented at Mankgodi in Kweneng District.

Ms Seabo revealed that government partnered with UNDP on the implementation of the project, adding that UNDP had reserved a budget for its success.

In an effort to facilitate the project, UNDP in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, organised a strategic workshop which aimed to come up with the right strategy for the smooth implementation of the project.

The United Nations Development Programme has engaged a consultant to equip officers and experts from both ministries of the youth and agricultural development and food security, BNYC, office of district commissioner and Local Enterprise Authority. At the end of the workshop, participants are expected to come up with a simple, and realistic strategy.

UNDP youth, women empowerment project manager, Mr Chris Batsalelwang explained in an interview that they had entered into a contract with government which covered issues of governance, equal rights, youth and women empowerment which they were implementing with various ministries.

With regard to the Setshaba project, he said they signed a four-year contract in which they would be advocating for a innovation and incubation centre for youth.

He said the aim was to establish a hub for agricultural development for young people.

Mr Batswalelwang noted that youth would be capacitated and taught business skills, adding that “our intention is to put all resources in place as agriculture is one sector that government is promoting towards Vision 2036.”

UNDP, he said, found it fit to support the project as they saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

Youth coordinator from the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Mokgadi Mantswe said Setshaba project was the way to go as far as food security was concerned.

She said they had noted that the youth had energy, brilliant ideas and easily adapted to technology hence the project involved them.

She admitted that although some had no interest in agricultural activities, they would bring a resilience building component to motivate them.

A scientific officer from the same ministry, Mr Patrick Galekgathege gave the project a green light, saying it could take the country to greater heights.

He said the project was a welcomed development as it would reduce unemployment. 

The project, he said, would develop the youth to become committed commercial farmers.

Mr Galekgathege also said incubation was the best model for the success of the project, and thanked UNDP for organising the strategy workshop which would come up with a guiding tool. ENDS