13 Dec 2020

The P300m Selebi Phikwe citrus project launched Friday will help reduce the import bill, says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Dr Masisi said with the project, Botswana would be able to export citrus fruits and in the process, increase revenue as well as promote smart and skills technology among Batswana.

The President said between 2015 and 2019, an average of 14 800 tonnes of citrus fruits were imported at an average cost of P77.9m adding that such a high import bill required necessary steps to be taken.

Dr Masisi said current annual citrus production in the country was estimated at  3 165 metric tonnes while approximately 97 per cent of fruit trees were imported.

He described the project as one of the first major export oriented, private sector led development consistent with his electoral promises and economic strategy to kick off in rural Botswana.

President Masisi said it was also in alignment with government’s strategy to modernise the agricultural sector with the view to boost food security and nutrition in the country. Citrus production and its entire value chain, he said, had tremendous potential for economic diversification and job creation adding that the project was projected to create at least 1 000 jobs.

“The project will help to diversify the country’s agro industry, with spin-off effects that will generate other value chain business opportunities. I am confident that the project will transform the landscape of citrus production in Botswana and contribute to economic growth as a whole,” he said.

He commended project sponsors, Dr Pieter Scholtz of Blydevallei International South Africa together with his partners and shareholders for choosing to invest in the country, particularly the SPEDU region.

“This project came at an appropriate time when my government is actively exploring various avenues of boosting the economy of the SPEDU region following the closure of the BCL mine a few years ago,” the President said. For his part, Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare commended Mmadinare Multi-purpose Cooperative Society for leasing its land to the investor.

He encouraged individuals and cooperatives with under-utilised pieces of land to emulate the cooperative by leasing or partnering with investors.

Another speaker, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Peggy Serame commended the cooperative for living the twin principles of  national cooperation and transformation strategy aimed at facilitating the formation of strategic cooperatives, partnerships and alliances.

She said because cooperatives were community-based, they played a pertinent role in sustainable development of their communities.

Ms Serame implored the cooperative to leverage on the partnership to impact positively the lives of its members, SPEDU region and the country at large.

Area MP, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi said cooperatives could be the country’s special purpose vehicle towards high income status.

The project, he said, had the added advantage of creating the necessary stimulus that would lead to positive effects on other downstream value-chain businesses. Ends