13 Aug 2013

The challenge posed by global warming requires farmers to reconsider alternative survival strategies such as diversification of farming, says Mr Blackie Marole, the chairperson of the board of the Botswana Development Corporation.

Speaking at the Bobirwa district show on August 10, Mr Marole said challenges such as frequent droughts and inadequate rainfall should not deter farmers from engaging in agriculture. Instead, he said farmers should develop ways of overcoming challenges to improve productivity.

Mr Marole said inadequate rainfall and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) called for a paradigm shift, meaning that farmers should develop other agrarian ventures to ensure food security for the nation. He said Bobirwa and the rest of veterinary zone seven were hit by FMD that had diminished the livelihoods of many people.

He warned that reliance on rain-fed agriculture was not enough for food production. He suggested that undertakings such as horticulture which had potential given the abundance of underground water in Bobirwa, needed to be enhanced.

He called on youth of the area to play a leading role in diversifying the economy. He explained that FMD affected the lives of people because it closed markets for cattle resulting in poverty. The other challenge was cross-border cattle rustling between Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Despite the challenges, Mr Marole, said Babirwa deserved commendation because they continued to survive the hardships caused by drought and FMD, unlike in other countries where people gave up.

He added that unlike in other countries people died of hunger but that was not the case in Botswana because the leadership was focused and played a critical role to ensure that the citizens are taken care of.

He advised Batswana to be in the forefront of business ventures instead of depending on government handouts or looking up to foreigners to create employment for them.

Marole also advised residents to prepare to exploit business opportunities that would come with the establishment of the proposed Mmamabaka border post between Botswana and Zimbabwe.

“Gone are the days when people complain of lack of market due to low population and purchasing power,” he said.

“Globalisation has created an opportunity to market and sell products to the rest of the world.”

The MP for Bobirwa, Mr Shaw Kgathi, commended the committee for hosting the show despite the drought. He advised that preparations for the show should take place ahead of time in order to attract exhibitors.

Mr Kgathi, who is also Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, said Bobirwa was poverty-stricken because of the recurring drought and the FMD outbreak.

He also advised the residents to venture into horticultural farming. Ends