31 Aug 2022

Residents of Mmathethe-Molapowabojang have been challenged to adopt agricultural entrepreneurship to change the economic landscape of the area.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Digawana on Monday, the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, implored his constituents to come up with new agricultural products and services to stimulate employment, which would ultimately result in the acceleration of economic development.

Dr Dikoloti, who is also the Minister of Health, encouraged them to take advantage of agricultural entrepreneurship, which was considered a pivot for economic growth and food security.

He also advised his constituents to adopt new ways of doing agriculture in the face of new challenges, free markets, sustainability and digital technology.

He shared that a successful agricultural entrepreneur needed to understand consistency, creative thinking, smart working, risk taking, communication and finding market opportunities.

He said there was need to identify and augment water points in the constituency to ensure the idea comes to full fruition.

The MP said ensuring economically efficient and environmentally, and socially sustainable water management to promote green growth in the context of water scarcity and climate uncertainty was paramount to agricultural entrepreneurship.

On other issues, Dr Dikoloti reiterated the need for residents to take advantage of economic empowerment laws and initiatives to change the economic landscape of their respective areas.

He implored constituents to ensure proper utilisation of natural resources in their respective areas for optimum output.

He cited a traditional vegetable Amaranthus leaves, known as ‘morogo wa thepe’ in Setswana, which was in abundance in Digawana farms, as a good source of nutrients such as carotenoids, proteins, magnesium, calcium, potassium and manganese, which if fully utilised could rake in money for the residents. BOPA