25 Aug 2020

 Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mr Edwin Dikoloti has said orchards play an important role in improving the country’s Gross Domestic Product. 

Speaking during the tour of the ministry’s orchard near Ditladi village in the North East District, he said government was planning to extend services to assist and encourage farmers to grow more fruits suitable for their areas. 

He said lack of expertise among Batswana was a disadvantage as it lead to failure to meet demand and supply. 

He said the fact that the orchard was still supplying orders made in 2015 was proof that there was high demand of citrus fruits hence production should be increased at the orchard. 

Mr Dikoloti said because the orchard had potential and expertise, it was time they produced more to supply farmers to feed the nation, and even export surplus to foreign markets. 

Appreciating the orchard, Mr Dikoloti noted that it produced citrus fruits. He advised that they should explore opportunities by benchmarking from countries doing well in fruits and vegetables production. 

He said in the era of COVID-19, it was vital to adopt new technologies to become even more productive and contribute to the national GDP, adding that though there was a lot of farming area in Botswana, neighbouring nations were producing more from little land resource than Botswana. 

Senior agricultural scientific officer Mr Tirelo Rantikane said they used propagation method. 

He said lack of greenhouse limited production capacity and pleaded with government to assist should funds permit so as to be able to plant all year round. 

The orchard, he said produced olives fruits, table grapes, citrus fruits, Midnight Valencia and many others. One of the challenges, he said was that the orchard was terrorised by monkeys and other animals.

Tonota MP Mr Pono Moatlhodi commended the orchard as it had potential reduce the country’s importation bill on fruits and vegetables. He said citrus fruits were necessary for promoting healthy living, boosting the body immunity with vitamins and assisting in fighting cold related ailments. 

He said Botswana needed to learn and benchmark from successful countries if the project was be to successful. 

North East District Council chairperson, Ms Florah Mpetsane said the orchard came at the right time and that more Batswana should be encouraged to follow suite to produce more fruits and vegetables. 

She noted all challenges faced and promised to engage the responsible government departments to assist. ends