03 Mar 2020

The President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says funds allocated to the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security would enable the ministry to transform the sector.

Debating the ministry budget proposals in Parliament, the President said the funds would boost the ministry, which is important in transforming the economy and livelihoods.

He said in Nhabe, people used to be dedicated to farming, but it was affected by climate change and therefore they should be assisted in acquiring modern farming methods.

Dr Masisi said Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination Centre would be extended to include small stock.

He said the centre should be opened to Batswana who would bring their bulls and rams and therefore be able to sell the semen locally and internationally.

President Masisi said the AI opening for small stock would enable the country to improve and increase its herd, saying government had been in negotiations with Saudi Arabia over exportation, adding this would be of economic benefit for Batswana.

He urged MPs to encourage their constituents to embark on agriculture, saying it promised to create many employment benefits. For his part, the Vice President and also MP for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said ‘the sector holds the key towards food security, poverty eradication and employment creation.’

The Vice President said he welcomed establishment of the National Drought Strategy, saying this would enable government to budget properly.

However, he was concerned that government subsidy benefited foreign companies and said it was high time Batswana produced livestock feed.

He said he was shocked that while Batswana were being encouraged to adopt modern farming technologies, members of the opposition parties in Parliament wanted to take them back by encouraging broadcasting, saying it was outdated and produced less food.

Mr Tsogwane said people were being encouraged to undertake row planting since government continued to assist by providing seeds, feritilisers and planting equipment.

He further said the farm machinery and equipment were also exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

The Vice President urged the minister to improve prizes offered by the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB).

Contributing to the debate, MP for Good Hope-Mabule, Mr Eric Molale said there should be land reforms in order to reform the agricultural sector, adding that idle land should be given to active farmers.

He said there were three under-utilized farms in his constituency, adding that they should be used to create value chains.

MP Molale said given transformation of the sector, it was imperative to offer quality training to extension officers to enable them to keep up with the demands of modern agriculture.

MP Molale called for the agriculture ministry to liaise with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry to market local produce. ENDS