13 Apr 2022

Collaboration between the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration and Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) will go a long way in refining products made through the Poverty Eradication Programme.

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the ministry and BIUST in Palapye on Tuesday, Assistant Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr Dmezweni Mthimkhulu, hailed the collaboration and said most products would benefit from the technical expertise offered by the institution.

‘’Intensifying the use of science and technology is expected not to only create employment for poverty eradication beneficiaries but also provide them with artisanal skills. It is, therefore, fitting that the two institutions should collaborate more formally in the development of value-adding products that will not only boost local economies but assist government in significantly reducing the import bill ’’,he noted.

Mr Mthimkhulu shared that already, an oil purifying machine for the programme had recently been placed in Palapye to be used to purify oil from processing projects in Palapye, Mabutsane and Bobonong Sub-districts.

“Because BIUST is doing some research work on sunflower oil by-products, coupled with operational space for the purifying machine, the two parties have agreed that BIUST will provide hosting facilities for the complete machinery set,” he said.

The Assistant Minister stated that as part of their research programme, BIUST had already done work on production of some sanitary amenities that could be commercialized by beneficiaries of the Poverty Eradication Programme.

He also said some beneficiaries were working on production of cattle feed as a by-product of sunflower oil processing including production of detergents such as powdered soap, hand wash, pine gel, dish wash and foam bath.

BUIST vice Chancellor Professor Otlogetswe Totolo said BUIST would provide technical support by optimizing the yield and quality of oil produced through the sunflower refining project.

“This unit is an industrial scale equipment that uses pressed sunflower crude oil produces a clear edible cooking oil and it has the potential to transform the general outlook of portable oil production and other by-products for local market using local research and enhancement technologies,” he said.

He said the project was a clear demonstration of the impact made by BIUST on the country’s economic and social development.

He said the sunflower refining unit was housed by the department of chemical, materials and metallurgical engineering laboratories.

Poverty Eradication Programme Coordinator, Mr Montshiwa Montshiwa said the sunflower projects will impact positively on the lives of the beneficiaries through employment creation and also reduce some of the import commodities. Ends