02 Mar 2020

The total cereal production realised during the 2018/19 farming season stood at 45 000 tonnes, only 14.8 per cent of national demand, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security has said.

Presenting the ministry’s budget for 2020/21 financial year last week, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said output and productivity in the crop subs sector had been affected by climate change and underutilisation of ploughing fields.

Thus, he said, the country was forced to rely on imports, hence the huge import bill.

He said in an effort to increase production, the ministry was scaling up the process of clustering arable fields.

He indicated that the Strategic Grain Reserve had achieved its target of 30 000 tonnes for sorghum and with the current commercial stock, they could sustain the country until 2021 harvest.

Meanwhile, Dr Dikoloti said as of February 7 this year, an area of 28 094 hectares was planted by 2 797 farmers and the number was expected to increase as measuring of fields continued.

The ploughing season was extended by a week to take advantage of the late rains.

Minister Dikoloti said Chobe was to be developed into an agro-processing centre taking advantage of the harvests from Pandamatenga area.

On horticulture, he said the sector had been growing steadily due to uptake of improved technologies.

He said five crops were to be added to the Infant Industry Protection Policy which would restrict their imports into the country.

The crops include patty pen, melons, chilli pepper, garlic and baby marrow and Dr Dikoloti said the intention was to ultimately consider closing the border for certain crops.

On livestock development, the minister said cattle numbers continued to decline hence the ministry was implementing a number of initiatives to reverse the trend.
Botswana had collaborated with New Zealand to train farmers, herdsmen and extension officers on best livestock production practices to enhance production and increase the national herd.

Dr Dikoloti said the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination Lab would also be upgraded.

He said the objective was to renovate the old infrastructure, restock bulls and tap enough semen to supply local and export market.

Small stock bucks and rams would also be introduced.

He indicated that technological advances had brought embryo transfer and other sophisticated methods, which the ministry would venture into to enhance population of cattle.

Dr Dikoloti said liberalisation of the beef market had been welcomed by farmers, adding the ministry would establish the Meat Industry Regulatory Authority to regulate the industry.

On the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), the minister said a management consultancy firm would be engaged in preparation for its privatisation.

The firms would be tasked with the responsibility to analyse the business model, review operations and marketing concepts of the commission as well as appraise competencies of personnel required to make BMC profitable and economically viable.

Meanwhile, the minister has proposed a total budget of over P2 billion out if which over P1bn (P1 387 806 230) would cover the recurrent and over P9 million (P979 170 334) for development. ENDS