11 Sep 2013

The Minister of Youth Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi says he was pleased with the progress made by Sechaba Youth Entreprises Farm, a subsidiary division of the Botswana National Youth Council.

Speaking on September 10 during his tour of the Mmankgodi-based farm, Mr Kgathi said his ministry gave BNYC P6.5 million about two years ago to refurbish the farm.  He said this was done because they saw the potential of the project and the capacity at which it could benefit the youth across Botswana.

Minister Kgathi said so far the refurbishment was at an advanced stage as per the timelines they were given. He said he was happy that already the goats, pigs, shade netting and two boreholes were in place and the farm would be up and running soon. 

Furthermore, he said, “we are hopeful that this will be a model project that will replicate across the whole country,” he said. Minister Kgathi said the farm would serve as incubation and training ground for young people.

At the same time, the project would help sustain the youth council as a cost recovery measure whenever profits were made. He said with availability of money, hostels would be built on the farm to accommodate the youth who would be coming to learn agri-business skills and training. 

Already five staff houses have been built to accommodate workers. Minister Kgathi said plans were afoot to run similar projects across the country. Already Moiyabana community had granted the BNYC 50 hectares, he said.

He said they would look at other potential areas in other parts of the country so that the youth at large may benefit. Mr Kgathi said government’s ultimate desire was to allow the youth run their affairs but with the current infighting giving them such carte-blanche was not possible.  

The executive director of Botswana National Youth Council, Mr Benjamin Raletsatsi said the whole concept of the Sechaba youth farm was to mobilise and train the youth on agricultural production. He said produce from the farm would be sold to make profit adding that those who did not have land would be given agricultural space while they are being assisted get their own land.

Raletsatsi said they wanted the farm to produce for and be able to sustain itself. ENDS