25 Jan 2022

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security supports a motion requesting government to partner with Bogosi to achieve food security and self-reliance through Letsema and related activities.

Responding to the motion, tabled by Kgosi Oscar Mosielele of Moshupa region, the Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare called for consultation between his ministry and Bogosi to map a way forward. Mr Gare said his ministry was open to suggestions on new ways that could improve Letsema towards the attainment of food security and self-reliance.

He further said his ministry had long partnered with Bogosi on matters relating to improving agricultural production in the country, citing the assignment of frontline extension workers (balemisi and bakenti) to the lands and cattle posts to ensure extension messages were passed to the farmers first hand.

“The achievement of this has always relied on the partnership the ministry has with Bogosi,” he said. Furthermore, Mr  Gare said they had continued to communicate the ministry’s programmes through Kgotla meetings, the

Botswana Television Tsa Temo Thuo, as well as Molemi Ithute and Pitso ya Balemi radio programmes, where Bogosi participate.

When tabling the motion, Kgosi Mosielele said before independence, agriculture contributed 75 per cent to GDP, but has since declined to four per cent, which shows that Batswana have shifted their focus to other activities such as Ipelegeng.

He further said after ploughing, some do not take care of their masimo, while others abandon the fields all together.

Kgosi Mosielele said food sufficiency should be a matter of national pride, as such, Dikgosi should be involved to encourage communities to go back to agriculture. ENDS