13 Feb 2022

The P10 million invested to revamp the ailing National Agro Processing (NApro) plant in Selebi Phikwe is anticipated to yield positive results.

NApro, which makes pickled products under the brand name Harvest Haven, is intended to catapult the horticulture sector in the SPEDU region to the next level of development, in accordance with the objectives of the Agriculture policy, Economic Diversification Drive, Poverty Eradication Programme and Economic Stimulus Programme.

NApro manager, Ms Metlha Mangwane informed Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi during his visit to the plant on Thursday that the P10 million that was allocated to them to improve production was expected to yield positive results.

Amongst the equipment purchased, she said, was a 1.5 tonne boiler, a vegetable cutter and an automated pickle filling line which would be commissioned soon.

She said NApro also managed to construct a laboratory for food testing, explaining that prior to that their products were transported from Selebi Phikwe to Kanye based National Food Technology Centre’s food laboratory for testing.

She said this was challenging as it was time consuming, resulting in high transportation costs and affected the quality of food transported.

Ms Mangwane also added that more delivery vehicles had been purchased for easy transportation of goods to the market, adding that Harvest Haven atchaar, beetroots and tomato sauce could only be found at Choppies, Spar and Sefalana Stores.

Harvest Haven products, she said faced stiff competition from foreign products hence took longer on the shelves.

For his part Minister Molebatsi commended NApro for the new  initiatives adopted to revamp the plant and increase production.

He said implementation of projects helped the government deliver on its mandate particularly the President’s Reset Agenda which emphasised on value chain development.

However he raised concern over the high import bill, emphasising the need to develop more value chains so that more goods were procured locally.

He said restrictions imposed on imported horticulture products was meant to empower local farmers to produce enough fruits and vegetables to meet the demand. “We want local farmers to work hard to close this gap,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi said government was resolute in helping Batswana through laws such as the procurement and economic inclusion laws which help to address issues of stiff competition from foreign brands and encourage procurement of goods locally.

Mr Molebatsi who is also MP for Mmadinare also urged NApro to consider making products that were highly consumed by the market to enable the government to procure from them.

He also urged them to support local businesses by procuring most of the equipment locally.

For his part Kgosi Molosiwa Molosiwa of Kagiso ward commended government for revamping NApro as that would help create employment in Selebi Phikwe. Kgosi Molosiwa urged government to invest in the SPEDU region particularly the agriculture sector to create employment and produce food for Batswana. ENDs