17 May 2022

Botswana has potential to produce grapes, Pandamatenga farms agronomist, Mr Hill van Schalkwyk has said when briefing Botswana heads of missions who were on a working visit to Pandamatenga farms on recently.

He said he planted a hectare of grapes and looking at how they respond to the soil and fertilizers he expects 15 tonnes of harvest. He however said grapes could not be planted in all Pandamatenga soils as they prefer a little bit of sandy soil and not black cotton soils which are common in the area.

Additionally he said he will ask the Department of Crop Production to identify 50 small scale farmers that he can donate seeds to for further trials.

Still on the findings of his trials, he said coffee had proved to do well in Pandamatenga. He further said in Chobe coffee could also be tried in other areas such Kasane and Kazungula as it thrives in high humidity areas.

For coffee production, he indicated that harvesting has commenced and samples were sent to South Africa for tasting. Mr van Schalkwyk said coffee will be sold online.

In an interview with the Dean of Botswana Diplomatic Corp, Ambassador Samuel Outlule said the tour of the farms, Kazungula Bridge and Lucky Bush Adventures would give the diplomats first information on what Botswana can offered to the international community.

He said with the information they acquired they would better facilitate the marketing of the country at the various missions across the world.

He said the tour which is part of the diplomats working visit in Gaborone will help in closing gaps that exist in tourism and agriculture and other sectors, which would help to promote the country as a destination of choice for investors. ends