29 Apr 2021

UNDP has been praised for its supplier development programme aimed at developing small and medium enterprises productive capacities and strengthening  entrepreneurial ecosystems to create jobs for Batswana.

  Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Investment Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi praised the organisation during the official opening of a horticultural technologies workshop in Selebi-Phikwe on Tuesday.

 The development of supply value chain had the potential to create employment, businesses and wealth, he said.

Mr Molebatsi noted that UNDP had enrolled a number of SPEDU region horticultural farmers in the programme training them on developing supply chains for national agro-processing plants.

The minister  said local consultants had also been trained on specifically designed courses on supplier development methodologies.

In addition, UNDP had mentored suppliers for 10 months to assist them to reach  buyer standards.

Mr Molebatsi said UNDP was focused on sectors such as mining, agro-processing projects, infrastructure, textiles, health and manufacturing in general. 

He said UNDP Botswana, together with local partners, was rolling out the programme to support the private sector.

The programme, he explained was modeled on similar successful programmes implemented by the organisation across the globe, especially in South America and Asia. 

During the first year of its implementation, it was discovered that ineffective technological ways remained one of the major contributing factors to low output and poor commercial performance of horticulture farmers. 

Mr Molebatsi said farmers did not use best farming practices and had no access to climate control equipment.

They also lacked access to improved inputs, use of efficient harvesting and harvest preservation methods, he said. 

He said reports also indicated that farmers desired to acquire technology to improve output but were constrained by lack of funding, knowledge of available technologies and their adoption. 

He called for private sector support, especially financing institutions. 

Mr Molebatsi urged participating farmers to be committed and to take advantage of the training.

UNDP business supplier development programme consultant Mr Daniel Gareebine said the positive impact the programme had made on people’s lives, especially in terms of value chain additions, had been noted worldwide.

He said the programme sought to make sure that bigger markets such as the mining sector supported small enterprises.   

The objective of the workshop, organised for national  agro- processing suppliers and supply chain stakeholders in the SPEDU region, was to impart awareness and knowledge on best practice horticulture technologies for improved output and economic efficiency of farming enterprises.

About 15 farmers together with other UNDP agri-business sector stakeholders within the SPEDU region participated. Ends