10 May 2023

National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) should commit to and pursue its mandate in order to benefit farmers and the nation at large, says Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas.

Speaking post Mmamanaka Farm walk, Tuesday, he said with highly qualified personnel NARDI should not disappoint farmers especially those yearning to better their farming methods.

The MP appealed to NARDI staff against shelving findings of their researches, but to have them put to use and help change lives.

“Your research findings should impact the lives of farmers and Batswana in general,” said Mr Lucas who informed NARDI of the challenges faced by his constituent farmers.

He said farmers in the area were pestered by a worm that destroyed maize, birds that feed on the farmers’ produce and wild animals like elephants and baboons that too feed on and damage crops.

The legislator quizzed NARDI staff on possibilities of working with Department of Wildlife and National Parks on hatching ways of keeping wild animals off production areas as part of their research.

On other issues, the MP expressed happiness at the youth turn out at the farm walk. He encouraged young people to develop interest in farming and appealed to qualified, unemployed graduates to seek financial assistance and take to farming.

“Use this knowledge to develop yourselves,” said MP Lucas to the participants of the farm walk.

He also urged his electorate to use the revamped LIMID saying, “Le wele mo lenaneong leo ka mabetwaepelo.”

During the walk that intended amongst other things sharing of information and for farmers to see firsthand the new technologies at the farm, NARDI chief executive officer, Professor Julius Atlhopheng said NARDI researches were meant to bring changes and developments into farming.

“We invited you here so that you could see the technologies and farming methods we have and how you could tap on these to develop and change your lives and also develop our country so it becomes self-sufficient in food production,” said Prof Atlhopheng.

The NARDI chief said Botswana was running a knowledge based economy and hence the need to share knowledge with farmers while simultaneously developing targeted solutions.

He warned farmers that ignoring the technologies and knowledge that NARDI provided could be detrimental to the development of the country.

The Mmamanaka Farm, used for research purposes, has gender neutral technologies in place. The technologies also take into account the realities of climate change.

“These developments should be sustainable and we bank on you to effect changes in your lives,” said Prof Atlhopheng, adding that NARDI shared knowledge guided by Vision 2036.

Whilst sharing information, NARDI chief said farming should produce food to avert hunger and poverty as outlined  in sustainable development goals and Botswana Road Map. ENDS