20 Jun 2022

Woolworths stores across the country have been commended for buying local produce.

Giving a keynote address at the opening of Francistown Woolworths’ food section recently, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Nancy Chengeta said by so doing, the chain shop were demonstrating full support of local horticultural farmers.

Early this year, government took a decision to ban the importation of some horticultural products.

Ms Chengeta explained that this was not meant to punish farmers but to support the local market to find its feet in the production of food to move towards a self-sustainable food sector.

She explained that Woolworths’ participation in supporting the local producers would go a long way in ascertaining the achievement of this initiative.

“I have trust and confidence in the Woolworths management that you are opening this food section with the intention to support local producers as a way of expanding the food value chain in Botswana,” she added.

The permanent secretary further indicated that the Francistown Woolworths branch was strategically located in an agricultural zone that supported food culture and citrus produce in a horizontal supply chain as opposed to a vertical one.

Ms Chengeta said the cost of food imports was becoming high each year, adding that to reduce the bill, there was a need to expand the domestic food production in a way that would provide adequate returns to producers.

“As a country, we can only achieve this if we undertake total transformation of our collaborative strategies and the way we do things especially when we ensure that our food value chains are fully developed so that we become fully inclusive,” she said.

On other issues, the permanent secretary said government was currently developing an end-to-end agricultural service digital platform called the Botswana Agricultural Information Management System.

She said the aim of the platform, which would be launched in the near future was to improve productivity and enhance access to markets for agricultural products.

The platform will allow farmers, including the most underserved in remote areas to market their products and services.

Ms Chengeta also commended Woolworths for providing employment for Batswana, especially for the youth who were faced with unemployment.

In his welcome remarks, Specially Elected Councillor Mr Modiri Lucas said the expansion of the Francistown Woolworths branch did not only benefit the employer and employees but would contribute a lot to the economy of Francistown and residents.

Councillor Lucas, therefore, encouraged those who produced fresh produce to start negotiating supply contracts with Woolworths Francistown branch.

Woolworths Country General Manager, Ms Abotseng Lekau said the store had been in existence in Botswana for 27 years.

He said currently, Woolworths had 16 stores spread across the country and employed 500 Batswana with only two expatriates.

He added that the company advocated for gender equality as most of the young Batswana employees were females.

The event also saw Woolworths donating a P5 000 to Lephoi centre, a school for children living with disability in the Monarch location. ENDs