14 Jun 2021

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare has applauded Hatsalatladi farmers for their dedication despite the challenges they face.

Speaking during the Farmer’s Association workshop at Maologane lands near Hatsalatladi on Saturday, the minister said the farmers were driven by the love and passion they had for the sector as they realised only a fraction of their return on investment.

The farmers told the minister that they faced numerous challenges among them high input costs and lack of a market for their produce.

Tractor owners decried the length of time it took for them to be paid and said such an anormally affected them financially.

They said ideally, it should not take long for farms to be measured as they needed the cash to buy fuel and maintain their tractors throughout the ploughing season.

Minister Gare said food security was the biggest threat faced by the country, which still imported most of its food mainly from neighbouring South Africa.

He said at the moment the country was experiencing a foot and mouth outbreak which had resulted in a ban on the importation of beef products.

The minister said agriculture could provide the much-needed jobs, adding this could be attained through the value chain.

He further said his ministry could not provide extension workers in all parts of the country, hence they would empower farmers through capacity building.

Mr Gare said government had realised that Batswana were unable to raise the 50 per cent required to fence their farms and encouraged them to form clusters.

The minister encouraged the farmers to establish their own market rather than depend on the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) which had been criticised for buying farmer’s produce at very low prices.

He further said the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) would be revamped. 

This, he said, was because government had realised the entity was no longer assisting farmers like before as it took about six months for farmers to collect their cash after selling their cattle.

Minister Gare said government would soon permanently ban the import of horticultural products into Botswana as the locals could not reach the market for their produce.

He said ideally Batswana should not have a problem selling their produce as the demand was higher than the supply.

The minister also encouraged farmers to venture into small stock farming, saying government was currently negotiating with Saudi Arabia for a market, hence the need to improve the quality and quantity of sheep and goats.

 Reverend Matsila, who hosted the event at his farm, pledged two rams towards the President’s initiative.

For her part, the Member of Parliament for Lentsweletau/Mmopane, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja welcomed the idea of banning horticultural products, saying Batswana should be encouraged to feed themselves.

She further encouraged farmers to form associations, adding that it would be for their own benefit as they could market their products and sell them at one price.

The Member of Parliament said she was currently working with 40 youths who had shown interest in small stock farming and had applied for land at the land board, where they would be placed in a cluster.

She appealed to farmers to mentor the youths for them to become established in their fields. ENDS