14 Sep 2020

 Farmers have been encouraged to join forces in order to exploit and enjoy dividends available in the agricultural sector.

Speaking during the buyer/seller workshop hosted by LEA in Ghanzi recently, Horsefire Investment business consultant, Ms Francinah Torombo warned that Batswana would soon become spectators in agricultural sector if they do not up their game.

Ms Torombo argued that more foreigners were coming to Botswana to venture into agriculture.

“I know they are coming to the country and they will drive you from the agricultural sector because they have money and assets,” stated Ms Torombo.

Consequently, she challenged farmers to join forces and establish associations and register companies. “A company sells a bigger part of you and allows you to get into many streams of production,” stated Ms Torombo.

Highlighting the importance of branding, she said it changed the value and quality of a product.

Ms Torombo cautioned that uncompetitive prices might kill a business and therefore, challenged agricultural producers to be realistic when pricing their products.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s marketing officer based in Ghanzi, Ms Tsholofelo Molefe said advised that producers should not only focus on profit but to expand their customer base and be customer oriented.

Ms Molefe emphasised the need for branding saying besides its ability to appeal to customers by creating an emotional attachment to the product and creating a good reputation, branding also gave employees purpose and direction.

For her part, LEA Ghanzi branch manager, Ms Ame Muzila urged farmers to fully utilise their services and grow their enterprises which in turn would help the country achieve food security as well as create employment

She said courses provided by LEA that could benefit farmers included records keeping, entrepreneurship development and business panning, noting that the organisation also provided coaching and monitoring to businesses registered with them. ENDS