04 Dec 2018

 The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security and SPEDU have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a way of formalising their collaboration.

 The two parties have undertaken to collabortate in enhancing and developing the agriculture sector in the region, create employment, promote food security and ultimately play a role in the diversification and revitalisation of the SPEDU region economy.

The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary - corporate services Ms Rose Sennanyana and SPEDU chief executive officer Dr Mokubung Mokubung signed on behalf of their organisations respectivelty at Cresta Bosele Hotel in Selebi Phikwe recently.

Dr Mokubung said SPEDU was committed to assist in the development of the agriculture sector in the region to make it more attractive. 

He said the two entities would work together to develop the sector and support  agribusiness investmentt in areas such as field crop production, horticulture, aquaculture, poultry, piggery as well as other small stock projects.

Dr Mokubung said as outlined in the MoU, government was expected to channel resources both human capital and financial to the SPEDU region if the development of the sector was to be achieved.

He said SPEDU and the ministry had been working on a number of agriculture projects which included the ongoing establishment of the Thune and Lotsane dam horticulture irrigation scheme, revival of Talana Farms, provision of electricity to small scale horticulture farmers along Motloutse River and a feasibility study for small dams in the region.“SPEDU was established to diversify the economy of the region and one of the sectors that was identified was agriculture and its entire value chain,” he said.

For her part, Ms Sennanyana said collaboration between the  ministry and SPEDU to realise the objectives set under MoU needed not only the two organisation but all involved in agriculture to play a role and support the mission.

If all went according to plan, SPEDU region would turn into an agriculture hub, she said adding that if the objective was achieved, it would bring returns to the region and the country at large and ensure food security at both household and national levels.

She said the agricultural sector played an important role in providing food, income,  employment and investment opportunities for people living in both urban and rural areas.

Ms Sennanyana explained that the ministry was in the process of transforming the agriculture sector with the major aim being commercialization and diversification.

She said her ministry’s approach was to promote production of agricultural commodities in suitable areas such as the SPEDU region.

“Through this approach, commodity clusters are being created in different agro-ecological zones. Areas suitable for grain production, fruit, vegetable and livestock production, as well as agricultural related commodities are identified, clustered and relevant extension and technical support provided,” she said. ENDS