23 Apr 2019

The Senior Manager at Lundin Foundation, Mr Babatshi Gasha has implored Mokubilo community members to own and support the integrated farming project in their village.

Speaking during a workshop held at Makgaba village recently Mr Gasha said enthusiasm on the project could take it to greater heights.

The farm Manager, Mr Gabankitse Mojaboswa said the farm had produced 15 000 eggs and had supplied 10 000 to business people and community members, selling each egg at P1.25.

The farm operates with 13 employees including a university graduate from Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and produces and sells  cabbage, spinach, green pepper, tomatoes and eggs. 

 The board chair of Mokubilo Multi- purpose cooperative,  Mr Thomas Maphane said they were happy with the sale of their own products. 

The main objective he said was to see Mokubilo Multipurpose Cooperative upgraded and able to operate independently from Lundin.

He said the expectation was that by June or July, they would be able to pay their own employees. 

He however  said the presence of elephants in their area threatened the success of the project.

Funded by Lundin Foundation a Canadian non-profit making organization in partnership with Lucara Botswana the project was aimed at  sustaining and improveing nutritional status in the village.

The Mokubilo project is a pilot  project underthe programme, named the Karowe Village Initiatives programme.

 Three villages being Mokubilo, Khwee and Mmadikola  were funded through the programme. The funding of the three villages was influenced by the fact that there was high malnutrition rate in Khwee followed by Mmeya.

The project budget for each village was P500 000  and the whole budget for the three villages which was P1,2 million was spent at Mokubilo farm.

According to the project Consultant Kungo Farms, it was decided that a programme that could enhance food security in the area, was a necessity. 

It was advised that an integrated farm was ideal for the project to succeed as it could make a massive impact in the community.

The objective was to address unemployment and boost food security and  feasibility study was focused nutrition.

Kungo farm as a consultant went on a benchmarking trip with the beneficiaries at Metflow Horticulture, Star Poultry in Gaborone, and also visited BUAN to enable beneficiaries to acquire farming skills.  

The project started farming by end of January 2019, and the consultant provided support in terms of monitoring and evaluation.

A model of a multi- purpose cooperative which had a board was adopted to operate the farm. 

The project which was launched by the Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane in August 2018, began with installation of a borehole. Ends