26 Oct 2020

Parliamentary Portfolio on Agriculture, Land and Housing committee has requested Tati Land Board to furnish Parliament with statistics indicating percentage of privately owned land in North East District.

Speaking during the committee’s tour in Masunga on October 24, Bonnington South MP Mr Christian Greeff stated that it was clear that due to a high percentage of land in the NED being freehold developments could not materialise.

He said it was disheartening to see private land being idle for years while some Batswana on the other hand were desperately in need of land for agricultural purposes.

Bobonong MP Mr Taolo Lucas stated that it was clear that the district farmers were passionate about farming but were restricted by shortage of land. 

He asked farming associations in the district to state efforts they had made to be given access to farms.

The committee’s acting chairperson Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang indicated that the role of the committee was to monitor and evaluate if Parliament’s mandate on Agriculture, Land and housing was being fulfilled in all parts of the country.

He said it was imperative for every farmer to set targets through which they would be able to measure themselves and draw lessons from the outcomes.

Dr Gobotswang stated that from the presentations made by different departments and associations, it was clear that shortage of land was a hindrance to agriculture in the district. 

He said it was important for Batswana to be equipped with all necessities that would enable them to be successful farmers in order to feed the nation.

MP for Tati West Mr Simon Moabi said government’s aim was for Botswana to be self-reliant, producing her own food rather than depending on other countries.

He said COVID-19 pandemic outbreak had proved that producing food locally should be emphasized so that when countries close borders during a pandemic Botswana would be able to produce own food.

Responding to questions, Tati Land Board principal human resources and administration officer Mr Olebile Maphuru stated that the land board had so far requested 18 farms from tribal land that were not utilised to be given back to government adding that they were awaiting approval.

He said efforts by government to acquire private land was futile because owners were willing to sell at high prices that were exorbitant for government while others were not interested in selling.

However he highlighted that the board continued to be in constant negotiations with owners in order to reach an agreement. 

Mr Maphuru assured the committee that the land board would compile statistics on percentage of private land and furnish Parliament with the information.

In his remarks, Kgosi Maruje III said the district land was in the hands of absent landlords who had acquired the land years back but were not utilising it. 

He said some of the farms had turned into criminal hubs as they had been left abandoned by their owners.

Kgosi Maruje pleaded with the committee to track down owners of the private farms and negotiate to lease them to government. 

He further said climate change had proved to be the biggest challenge in agriculture as farmers continued to suffer greatly due to change of weather patterns.

He said government and the community had invested in the Masunga cluster farming however could not reap rewards due to unreliable rainfall. 

He stated that their aim was to tap into storm water drainage network and harvest the water so that it could be utilised in the cluster farms. Ends