02 Jul 2019

An official from the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) Dr Benjamin Ditsele has implored farmers to use the entity’s Agronomy section which advises and teaches farmers on the latest production techniques or methods for increased production

Dr Ditsele who is BAMB’s head of veterinary told farmers during the  Motokwe integrated show recently that farmers contributed towards the country’s economy to reduce over-reliance on diamond hence the need to be up to date with latest trends.

He hailed the objectives of the show for being in line with the government’s initiatives that were geared at attaining food security and economic diversification.

Dr Ditsele added that BAMB was alive to the challenges faced by farmers due to climatic conditions experienced in different production areas of the country.

He further said such conditions affected crop development in various ways resulting in lower grades and sometimes ungraded produce which would be used for livestock feeding.

 Dr Ditsele said BAMB played a critical role in ensuring easy access to quality agricultural inputs mainly fertilizers. In an effort to influence increased crop production, he said they had taken an initiative to adopt clusters wherein they would provide inputs and technical support through training and demonstration.

He, therefore, implored farmers who have clusters in the Motokwe area to position themselves to benefit from the programme.

He also encouraged them to focus on cowpeas production as it performed well in the region while the government also procured it for the school feeding programme.

Dr Ditsele said in response to customer needs, especially livestock producers, BAMB had developed a service code-named BushVet which would complement the already existing wide range of veterinary products.

“As a way of supporting the government subsidy scheme, we commit to ensuring that all the products listed under the subsidy are available at all our sales outlets. You will be delighted to know that we have restocked horse feed in areas where there are high horse populations,” he said.

Dr Ditsele congratulated Motokwe Integrated Show organisers for being able to host it despite the challenges they experience as farmers.

He encouraged them to keep track and assess whether they had achieved their set goals and grown from previous shows as that would help in seeking future sponsorships and partnerships.  He urged them to continually engage one another on issues that affected production saying all should play a role in adopting the latest production methods to improve efficiency at their farms.

Dr Ditsele said BAMB would be hosting the country’s first Agric Business Forum where all players in the agriculture value chain would collectively introspect and assume a more futuristic stance at a national level.

The District Agricultural coordinator Mr Lepodisi Telekelo stressed the importance of amassing enough knowledge and information as farmers so that they could do what was required to increase their production

He said farmers had a duty to produce enough to feed the nation and also sell to foreign markets, adding that food security remained at the core of any agricultural sector to bring stability to the economy of the country. 

Mr Telekelo further said farmers should utilise government subsidies meant to cushion them from expensive agricultural inputs.

He said shows were very important as they provided a landscape for farmers to learn from one another and use the skills acquired to improve their production.

Motokwe integrated show chairperson Mr Lesang Diane said the objectives were to promote the spirit of self-reliance and partnership.

He said the show acted as a platform for farmers to convene and share their farming skills and techniques.

Mr Diane said the association existed so that farmers could speak with one voice on how best to help farmers excel in the country.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Actor Maripe said the show provided a platform for farmers to learn from one another.

He said farming was a way of life that had supported many families from time memorial and had to be taken seriously. Ends