02 Nov 2021

African Agriculture has launched a farmer support programme dubbed BHERO55 to help improve the country’s agric sector.

The local company, which specialises in locally assembled tractors branded BHERO, specifically made for the country’s soils and climatic conditions, will offer technical support to 55 farmers who purchase the

YTO/BHERO tractors and implements as part of the company’s contribution to the development of the country’s food system.

Officially launching the support programme on behalf of the Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security in Gaborone on Saturday, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said

the support offered to farmers through the initiative would help improve the country’s food security.

“This is a game changer in the agriculture sector, especially for a company that is focused on providing relevant agriculture equipment that caters for the needs of local farmers,” he said.  

Mr Mmusi further noted that farmers would no longer have to struggle with breakdowns of farm equipment, which delayed food production in the country.

“One of the key factors that delays production is the frequent breakdown of farm equipment, especially tractors.

This has, as a result, compelled government to keep extending deadlines of the ploughing season,” he said.

Mr Mmusi said the BHERO55 initiative would promote agriculture mechanisation.

The 55 farmers that will purchase the BHERO tractor will be enrolled to the programme and the farmers would be accredited by African Agriculture through a vetting process.  

They will receive free education on how they can care and maintain their farm implements as well as             free services for their BHERO farm implements.

BHERO55 also aims to support 55 farmers with P60 000 each in service prices to be awarded in a period of 5 years, and will be extended for another year, in respect of women, youth and people with disability applicants.

Moreover, farmers will be offered technical support and skills sharing spearheaded by a team of engineers at African Agriculture.

Mr Mmusi said the ministry of agriculture took seriously initiatives that tried to improve the agriculture sector as the nation was looking for people that would come up with solutions to food security problem in Botswana.
Acting public relations officer for African Agriculture, Ms Patricia Tshephe highlighted that the BHERO55 initiative was inspired by Botswana’s 55 years of independence and aided the initiative of Support a Farmer,

Feed the Nation campaign launched by African Agriculture in partnership with Business Botswana and Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Ms Tshephe said a farm implement was a weapon for any farmer, and said African Agriculture was doing the most by assisting farmers to reach their full potential with proper serviced farming implements. Ends