12 Oct 2022

Botswana Red Cross Society, in conjunction with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as well as the Japanese government, have constructed a P3.5 million community horticultural farm in Gweta.

In an interview recently after the handing over of the community farm, Botswana Red Cross Society secretary general, Mr Kutlwano Mokokomani said the farm was nine hectares and had over 50 workers who were trained in horticulture and agri-business.

Mr Mokokomani said the farm would help improve food security in Gweta, adding that it was part of the 2021 COVID-19 food security relief projects. He added that the key to food security was continuous and systematic access to food.

Mr Mokokomani also said farm beneficiaries were given a fully equipped borehole, irrigation system, farming inputs and were given technical support by a horticulture specialist.

He noted that the community farm was producing 1.5 tonnes of vegetables per month and that they sold to local shops and supermarkets, including those in surrounding villages.

Mr Mokokomani also said they continued to develop different interventions to promote community resilience and the empowerment of the local horticultural market.

He noted that one of their mandate was to provide services to the most vulnerable.

Mr Mokokomani said partnership with Japanese government demonstrated the importance of community-based interventions.

For her part, a representative of the Japanese embassy, Ms Sayuri Himeno said the community farm was a response to the food and nutrition insecurity caused by the advent of COVID-19.

She said the pandemic highlighted the need for self-reliance, noting that the community farm was providing income security and food nutrition to Gweta residents.

Ms Himeno said the farm project was not only started to benefit the community through the sale of vegetables, but that it would also be sustainable and contribute to the establishment of a resilient and sustainable community.

She said they would also provide machinery and material, including tractors, vegetable driers and green houses, adding that the initiative  would help to modernise Botswana’s agriculture sector.  ENDs