24 Nov 2020

The rejuvenation of Lobu farm in the Kgalagadi District is a welcomed move in improving small stock production and positioning Botswana as a hub for commercial breeding.

Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi South, Mr Sam Brooks in his debate of the State-of-the Nation Address applauded government for remaining steadfast in activating Batswana to venture into small stock production as a business to feed the nation and ultimately export. Mr Brooks highlighted that the farm had all it takes to open business opportunities for Batswana in terms of adding value to small stock production.

He implored the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), to establish an office at Lubu to facilitate research on how to maximise the resources at Lubu.

Mr Brooks acknowledged the President’s small stock initiative as one avenue through which Botswana could realise and achieve the dream of being self-sufficient and economic diversification.

 He similarly commended the President’s initiative to host cabinet meetings on citizen-owned farm facilities, saying the initiative would motivate and capacitate small farmers.

 He, however, pleaded that the initiative be gradually rolled out to all districts across the country, particularly to his constituency as it boasts some of the best farm and event hosting facilities.

 Further, Mr Brooks pleaded with the government to develop infrastructure at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

The legislator highlighted that it was important for government to construct user-friendly roads leading to the park to attract locals who could not afford off-road vehicles.

 He stated that government needed to invest in infrastructural development in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to boost eco-tourism and economic growth through the involvement of local communities.

He said the signing of the memorandum between Botswana and South Africa in 1997 for the development and management of the transfrontier park and transfrontier conservation areas was a glimpse of hope for residents of Kgalagadi.  

“With worldwide growth in the eco-tourism industry, the Transfrontier Park offers an opportunity to optimise the abundance of fauna and flora that both countries had to offer to the benefit of local communities,” he said.

He, however, complained that, even though the park was economically beneficial to the South African communities living along it, the same could not be said about the Botswana side as a lot of economical activities were centred in the South African side of the park, where it was more resourced.

He highlighted the urgent need for government to carry out works related to the construction and renovation of houses for park guards, visitor centres and other facilities, as well as the construction of paths and viewpoints to lure in tourists to the Botswana side of the park.

 He said good infrastructure and telecommunication facilities, as well as trained human resources, were needed to sustain tourism in the park.

 Contributing to the debate, Molepolole North MP, Mr Oabile Regoeng noted that it was pleasing that the government continued to implement initiatives and programmes geared at empowering young people in business and skills development.

Mr Regoeng stated that more emphasis should be channelled towards sustainability and the 975 youth projects funded during the 2019/2020 financial year.

 He said stringent monitoring and mentoring of youth development projects were critical to ensure project sustainability, which would translate into improved lives.

Mr Regoeng also pleaded with the government to provide a conducive environment for economic growth through infrastructure development, particularly in dairy production.

He noted that Botswana still had a long way to go to achieve self-sustenance in milk production, adding that the unexploited dairy sector was primarily due to poor infrastructure that linked dairy farmers and the market.

 The long-proposed MilkAfrik project, he said, would provide a great opportunity for upcoming farmers to share capacity and promote the supply of raw milk to close the deficit if only there was adequate infrastructure. ends