01 Dec 2019

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Dr Edwin Dikoloti says reduction of the import bill is government’s top priority. 

Officially launching locally produced hybrid seeds by CrossCorn Seed Company,  Dr Dikoloti said  the launch of the seeds was a significant step towards the localisation of seed production in Botswana, adding that this would contribute to an improved domestic economy leading to job creation. 

 “It is commendable as it fits well with the transformation agenda, which government has embarked on for accelerated economic diversification and global competitiveness,” he said. 

He further said for sustainable access to safe and adequate food, the nation had to pool its resources to ensure that the primary source of food security, being seed production, was localised. 

“We have to reduce dependence on neighbouring countries for such an important production input,” said Dr Dikoloti. 

He said the  initiative by CrossCorn augured well for the country because it presented economic benefits, which would lead to the revival of the agricultural sector as well as create linkages for a knowledge based economy. 

It also offers the farming communities access to consistent supply of fresh quality seeds which are adaptable to local conditions, said Dr Dikoloti. 

The Minister said he was informed that for seed production, CrossCorn offered contract farming to interested individual farmers/companies with requisites skill sets and equipment to produce on their behalf. 

He hoped that this would also aid in improving the contribution by agriculture towards the gross domestic product (GDP). 

Dr Dikoloti said this was of great importance because it was consistent with government’s efforts of transforming the economy from middle income status to upper income status. 

He called on other industry players to follow CrossCorn’s lead in localising their operations to help make this transformation a reality. 

“It is also imperative for us at the ministry to play a meaningful role in ensuring that facilitation efforts are geared towards creating a conducive environment for companies such as CrossCorn to excel in their endeavour to emancipate the country from dependence on imports,” he concluded. 

For his part, CrossCorn Seed Company finance manager, Mr Tebogo Motingwa stated that the company was established in 2013 as a seed distributor after identifying a niche in the market and the idea was to create a one stop shop for all farmers’ seed needs. 

He indicated that their breakthrough came in 2015 when they re-branded and adopted the tagline; temo pinagare ya Motswana as farmers started identifying with them. Mr Motingwa said the breakthrough was also demonstrated by the confidence the department of crop production bestowed on the company, when it was awarded 48 per cent of the seed tender by volume during the 2016/17 season, representing the largest bulk of the total tonnage procured. 

“2017/18 season was also the same as we were also awarded the bulk of the tender,” he said. 

He further said the success of the company was a direct result of the dedicated team of seed agents who relentlessly ensured that their range of products were accessible to farmers in all corners of the country. 

Mr Motingwa said in 2017, CrossCorn took a decision to localise production of hybrid seeds in Botswana to position the company better for opportunities anticipated by the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA). 

He said a successful partnership had been put in place between CrossCorn and Quality Seeds from South Africa to produce genetics suitable for production in Botswana. 

He said the first batch of their locally produced hybrid maize seed was successfully done under contract with JP Roos farms in Sherwood in March this year, followed by another successful production in Pandamatenga still under contract with Piet Strachan. Ends