13 Jul 2021

The strategically located Matopi Commercial Farmers Cooperative (MCFC), which occupies a fertile land and has a beautiful landscape, can grow the economy if well utilised.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake during her tour of the 2 164-hectare farm located between Matsiloje and Matopi in the North East District on Friday.

Matopi Commercial Farmers Cooperative (MCFC) is one of the five clusters out of the 16 that have been connected to the electricity grid.

Ms Manake said government was supportive of agricultural projects because agriculture was the backbone of the country’s economic base.

She explained that the cooperative was strategically located and could utilise water from Ramokgwebana River or draw some from the nearby Dikgathong Dam.

The assistant minister implored the cooperative members to come up with a vision that would take them to higher levels of economic growth.

She advised members to partner with financial institutions and borrow money to develop their farm to become a model cluster.

In his welcome remarks, MCFC vice chairperson, Mr Milton Khachana said the main objective of the farm was to replicate the Pandamatenga commercial farms to promote food security.

Mr Khachana explained that in doing so, the cooperative would embark on a large scale farming to commercialise the business.

So far, from the over 2 164 hectares, members have managed to de-bush 350 hectares to make it ready for the coming ploughing season.

Mr Khachana thanked government for having connected electricity at the farm, adding that the erection of an electric fence had commenced to prevent wild animals from destroying the crops.

He noted that they had identified some water points in the Ramokgwebana River and were intending to also draw water from the Dikgathong Dam for irrigation purposes.

Mr Khachana said they had decided to focus on fodder production because the import bill for fodder stood at P300 million annually.

He said all the 12 members of the cooperative were starting to relocate to the farm to show their commitment, adding that the main challenge lying ahead was lack of finance and market as well as crop destruction by wild animals.

He pointed out that the farm would also create employment for Batswana to grow the economy.

For his part, Crop Production director in the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Joshua Moloi implored the farmers to produce enough food for consumption and exportation.

Mr Moloi said food security was crucial because of the annual high import bill, adding that government would continue to support committed farmers.

Giving a vote of thanks, North East District Council chairperson, Ms Florah Mpetsane also underscored that the main challenge in the area was elephants, which destroy crops.

She also complained about the gravel road between Matopi and Matsiloje and called on government to maintain it regularly.

Ms Mpetsane stated that the North East District Council had also been allocated a piece of land in the area and the main focus was fodder production.

MCFC is an agricultural management association made up of 12 commercial farmers, who have been allocated a total of 2 164 hectares of arable land.

The commercial cluster has  been earmarked to specialise in a large scale production of fodder crops and soya beans. Ends