20 Nov 2022

The opening of Irvine’s Botswana’s Feed Mill comes at an opportune time when government is coming up with key initiatives in agricultural sector to achieve food self-sufficiency, says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Speaking at the launch of Irvine’s Botswana Feed Mill and head office in Mmamashia on Friday, Dr Masisi said the company would also contribute to exporting agricultural products.

The President noted that the sector in its entirety, had enormous potential to catalyse economic growth post COVID-19 pandemic.

He therefore,  commended the company’s initiatives that were aligned to priorities of government.

“In the milling plant, Irvine’s has ensured that the raw material is sourced locally, and the company has so far managed to secure a significant portion of their maize requirements from local farmers, thus supporting the agricultural community,” he said.

He said farmers producing maize cobs would also benefit from market access that Irvine’s has created for them. President, therefore called upon maize farmers and other investors to participate in the value chain system provided by the Irvine’s.

Moreover, he said Irvine’s Botswana did not only focus on the production of chicks and poultry feed, but they were also involved in imparting skills to Batswana as they offered free weekly training seminars for all chicken growers, to enable them to run successful poultry businesses.

He said through the facility, Irvine’s had trained 2 000 small scale growers and continued to offer the opportunity to new entrants in the industry. The initiative, he said offered opportunities to growers of all ages, thus providing chance for the youth to venture into the poultry business.

President also underscored government’s adoption of the Reset Agenda underpinned in the development of value chains in the agriculture sector as one of the priorities, which he said, would ensure food security while strengthening knowledge capabilities around the sector through dedicated research by research institutions.

“This confirms the importance of the agricultural sector and government’s commitment to foster its development,” he stated.

Meanwhile Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said the opening of the feed mill was a great milestone and signified efforts by his ministry to create sustainable industries aimed at growing and diversifying the economy as well as creating wealth and the much needed employment to Batswana. 

He said the success story of Irvine’s Botswana was further a testimony that government was committed to creating seamless ways of supporting businesses.

Minister Kgafela further said Botswana Trade and Investment Centre continued to extend and fortify government’s intentions to diversify the economy by attracting and facilitating investment in key economic centers such as agriculture sector.

MP for Mochudi East, Mr Mabuse Pule emphasised the importance of good infrastructure in doing business. He suggested that government should decongest major roads, adding that the Modipane-Mabalane road should be considered as an alternative route for ferrying produce to markets.

He said the supply of feeds would benefit farmers in the poultry sector and that farmers in the localities would enjoy shortened travel costs for feed produce and commended Irvine’s Botswana for choosing to invest in Kgatleng.

Irvines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Craig Irvine emphasised the importance of small scale sector as a major contribution of most country’s’ GDPs. 

He said the company was accessible to 60 000 farmers across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and Tanzania who produce chicks and feed.

He said his company assisted farmers to start and grow successful chicken businesses and that their newly opened Grower’s shop provided customers with day old chicks, feed vaccines, equipment and other inputs required in the poultry produce.

Mr Irvine further said the company worked with Agri -Feeds and Big Up Holdings to provide one stop concept to the whole of Botswana. ends