25 Feb 2021

Parliament has been informed that 10 farmers have been given draft lease agreements for consideration to use treated wastewater from the Radihemelo Raw Water Project for irrigation.

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare said the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) funded the construction of 24 tunnels and procurement of inputs for eight youth beneficiaries, adding that construction started in 2018 and was completed in 2019.  

The initial phase of the project entailed construction of water holding ponds, pumping station, water reticulation to the 29 hectares, internal gravel roads, ablution blocks, perimetre fence and office block, he said. 

Mr Gare, however, said due to the limited amount of water received at the waste water treatment ponds, it was decided that allocation of plots be done in stages.He said stage 1 covered 18 hectares, eight of which was allocated to eight youth and 10 hectares allocated to two anchor farmers, who were allocated five hectares each. 

He also stated that the youth were on site and producing mainly tomatoes, sweet peppers and maize.  

Mr Gare said the ministry was working on ensuring that the project was in full production through provision of technical support and by ensuring that some technical challenges that were experienced after the construction of tunnels were rectified.

Construction of Radihemelo Raw Water Project is a project in Serowe started in 2016 through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) covering an area of 29 hectares. Serowe North MP, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe had asked the minister to update Parliament on the status of the Radihemelo Raw Water Project in Serowe.ends