21 Oct 2019

Ngamiland community has been urged to harness the use of technology and innovation to improve their yields and returns within the agriculture sector.

Residents were encouraged to take advantage of the National Development Bank (NDB) new initiative aimed at making farming more appealing and accessible to both aspiring and experienced farmers.

Speaking during the launch of a six-month promotional campaign for two products: Temo Bokamoso and Ntlhatlosa ko Morakeng, NDB chief executive officer, Ms Lorato Morapedi encouraged farmers to adopt innovative ways of farming.

Ms Morapedi said the institution understood farming differently, hence the new initiative, which places agriculture at the top.

The bank will be offering loans to improve and encourage farming and one of the customers stands a chance to win P50 000 worth of solar equipment of their choice to use at the farm in an effort to drive the use of renewable energy farming.

Ms Morapedi said the bank supported the nations’ aspiration in the attainment of food security, adding that the initiative was  aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt innovative ways of farming as farmers would be able to equip their farms with the latest and greatest technology.

She said the youth made up to 60 per cent of the population and the government bank had no option, but to develop and enable them to be interested in participating in farming so that they could truly benefit from the demographic dividend.

She said in line with its Letsema 2019-2020 Strategy, the bank would support and facilitate participation in agriculture sector through what the youth like most, for example technology and innovation such as the development of Apps, drone farming and green farming.

The strategy also places emphasis on the need to work hand in hand with stakeholders to harness the use of technology, innovation and partnership to improve yields and returns throughout the entire value chain.

Ms Morapedi revealed that their aim was to transform farming projects into massive commercial establishments and put agriculture where it should be - at the top.

As the market leader in agri/farming related business, she said what set them apart as NDB was the special relationship they established with customers, noting that their customers were the reason for their existence.

He also said they would like to continue building innovative, yet sustainable products because they believed that together they could create a booming agriculture sector.

At NDB, she said they look forward to revolutionise the farming industry into a more lucrative and viable economic player for the growth of the economy now and into the future.

She said they wanted to see more local operations grow into multinational suppliers.

Head of Credit from NDB, Mr John Morobane said the bank recognised customers as important partners in their journey of facilitating the economic development of Botswana.

Mr Morobane said that was why they found it fit to engage their customers through agri-loan campaign to create awareness in some of their flagship products, which had a significant impact in supporting the economic growth of the country.

The launched two products, he said, aimed at developing and supporting small scale farmers with a view to transforming them into commercial farmers. ENDS