05 Mar 2023

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to support the horticulture sub-sector.

Responding during ministers’ question time recently, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi told Parliament that government, in collaboration with the National Development Bank (NDB), would thus prioritise the impact accelerator subsidy.

Mr Molebatsi said during the 2022/2023 financial year, 362 farmers across the country benefitted from the initiative in different packages such as borehole equipping, irrigation system, solar panels and shade nets.

He said the subsidy, coupled with the import restrictions, had significantly stimulated local production of horticultural products and also increased the number of farmers partaking in the horticulture industry.

“The total production in the current year stands at 45 221 tonnes compared to 36 244 tonnes in the previous year, which represents an increase of 25 per cent partly attributable to the policies government has been implementing to support the sub-sector,” he said.

Another initiative directed towards boosting the horticulture sub-sector was development of land parcels in Thune and Lobatse dam areas through the Public Private Partnership (PPP).

On one hand, Mr Molebatsi said the livestock sub-sector continued to contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of rural communities.

“In line with the Reset Agenda, the ministry has intensified the adoption of technology in animal production. At Artificial Insemination (AI) camps, the ministry has adopted improved methods to detect pregnancy in cows during cattle entry for insemination,” he said.

He added that the ministry had also imported semen straws to complement the semen production which stood at 248 513 straws.

“A total of 12 200 semen straws has been procured which includes 9 400 Brahman, 300 Beef Master, 200 Black Angus, 100 Santa Getrudis, 1 200 Charolais and 1 000 Limousine. Out of the total semen straws procured a total of 734 semen straws has been sold, 404 straws sold to private farmers and 330 straws to static AI camps,” Mr Molebatsi said. 

On the upgrading of Ramatlabama National Artificial Insemination laboratory, he said the aim was to transform the facility into a centre of excellence and a hub for processing of quality semen and embryos.

“The livestock hub will promote Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) for use by local and international markets through upgrading the infrastructure and introducing Artificial Insemination (AI) in Smallstock and multiple ovulation embryo transfer,” he said.

Similarly, he said the construction of a modern multi-species abattoir in Tsabong was progressing well and the project was scheduled for completion next month (April).

Mr Molebatsi said the abattoir would provide an economic hub for livestock farmers in and around Tsabong and was expected to ease congestion in other abattoirs across the country.

As part of further efforts to develop the livestock sub-sector, Mr Molebatsi said government was progressing with the establishment of the Meat Industry Regulatory Authority (MIRA).

With regard to the dairy sector, he said government imported and sold dairy female sexed semen to farmers at a subsidised price.

“During the 2022/2023 financial year, a total of 1 750 high quality dairy cattle female sexed semen was procured and 6 000 additional semen straws are expected at the end of this month to increase the number of dairy cattle in Botswana and ultimately local milk production,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr Molebatsi said to promote commercialisation of the smallstock industry and development of its value chain, government would continue to support the industry by providing capacity building and quality breeding stock to farmers.

Parliament also heard that Lobu Farm was being developed and digitised to be a model of excellence for smallstock production, a move that would position Botswana as a leader in smart smallstock production and management systems in line with the Reset Agenda. ends