21 Dec 2022

The approximately P2.4 billion budget proposal for the Ministry of Agriculture to be spent during the Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) will be used to ensure food security in the country.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi when presenting Public Investment Programme (PIP) budget proposals for his ministry on Monday.

He said his ministry sought to fund implementation of different programmes designed to improve food security at national and household level.

He said this included the launch of the new Temo Letlotlo programme which was aimed at ensuring that micro-scale farmers produced enough output to contribute significantly to their household food consumption needs.

He also said Temo Letlotlo would also promote commercial production of grain by improving access to inputs, credit and other essential services as well as promote inclusivity in agricultural production by building rainfed agricultural production systems that are youth, disability and gender sensitive.

Mr Molebatsi said his ministry would continue with the Impact Accelerated Subsidy (IAS) initiative through National Development Bank (NDB), which assists horticultural farmers with protected environment, open field irrigation systems, reservoirs, borehole equipping, inputs, solar power, electricity connection and pack house.

He further said the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) Phase II would continue to provide livestock and infrastructure development such as water and handling facilities to beneficiaries.

Mr Molebatsi added that some other high-value priority projects included the Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development, refurbishment of Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination (AI) Centre, construction of agricultural infrastructure to high production areas, establish Meat Industry Regulatory Authority (MIRA) and cluster development.

“The Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project is a 40 000-hectare project aimed at establishing a viable commercial agriculture capable of contributing meaningfully to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and creating direct employment for approximately 3 000 people,” Mr Molebatsi said.

Additionally, he said the refurbishment of Ramatlabama National Artificial Insemination Laboratory would transform the facility into a centre of excellence and a hub for processing quality semen and embryo products would also be developed for local and international markets.

He also said Botswana sought to penetrate more markets through the Beef Cluster Development Initiative and model farms would be established for technical capacity building and for sustainable grass-fed production. ENDS