28 Feb 2021

Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has developed Agriculture Infrastructure Development Initiative, which will guide the ministry in constructing access roads to agricultural areas.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Friday, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the initiative detailed how agricultural production areas would be serviced with roads and electricity. 

However, the minister said the implementation of the initiative had been slow and of low magnitude, owing to budget constraints. 

In terms of district coverage by 2023, Dr Dikoloti said although in principle ‘we have the plan per production areas, it did not help target in terms of district coverage due to budget constraints’. 

He said Hyenaveld was not in the current plan, but would be considered in the future. 

Dr Dikoloti admitted that lack of roads and accessibility to electricity in agricultural areas (cattle posts, arable fields and farms) negatively affected agricultural productivity in the country. 

MP for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had requested the minister to brief Parliament on the ministry’s plan in the creation of a paradigm shift in terms of district coverage by 2023 and say if such plans included the Hyenaveld Farms. 

He also asked if the ministry was aware that lack of roads and accessibility to electricity in cattle posts, ploughing fields and farms contributed to low food production in the country. ENDS