19 Jun 2022

 Botswana continues to make strides in combating desertification and land degradation as well as minimising its impact.

Speaking at the commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in Mochudi on Friday, principal agricultural scientific officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Pius Nkunda said Botswana gained momentum and courage to combat desertification and land degradation after signing and ratifying the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1995 and 1996 respectively.

Mr Nkunda said the country however, had long realised the significance of managing land degradation and minimising its impact even before the signing and ratification of the convention.

He said the establishment of government and community tree nurseries, plantation, backyard nurseries and community woodlots, was promoted as early as the 1980s to address the challenge.

For his part, Kgatleng District agricultural coordinator in the Department of Forestry and Range Resources, Mr Peter Olekantse said the commemoration was held to promote public awareness about desertification and drought and how they could be effectively tackled. 

Mr Olekantse added that the day also aimed to strengthen the implementation of the convention in countries experiencing serious drought, particularly in Africa.

He said some of the key messages on this year’s commemoration was that droughts had always been part of nature and human experience but were now much worse lately therefore everyone should participate in actions that increased collective resilience.

The commemoration was held under the theme: Rising up From Drought Together, with a slogan, ‘Food, feed; A re tsweng mo leubeng mmogo, re itirele dijo.’ ends