18 Jun 2023

The new Pandamatenga silos are expected to motivate farmers to increase production of grains thereby promoting food security.

Speaking after touring the project on Friday, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said upon completion of the 60 000 metric tonne silos, farmers would be driven to increase their production.

He said the 30 000 metric tonnes capacity of the old silos was a hindrance as farmers were constrained to produce more grains.

He said farmers in the Pandamatenga region could produce over 100 000 metric tonnes in a good season, hence there was still a need to further increase the capacity of the silos.

He noted that Pandamatenga had been declared a Special Economic Zone and that there was further potential for growth due to the to the impending Zambezi water scheme where farmers would draw water from the Zambezi River for irrigation.

Farmers currently depended on rain water, said Mr Kgafela, noting that it was an unreliable source. 

He added that production would increase after the Zambezi water scheme as there would be yield all year instead of seasonal.

Minister Kgafela also noted that most commercial arable farmers in Pandamatenga were foreigners despite government's endeavour to allocate Batswana arable land.

He expressed reservations over the power supply to the silos, noting that Pandamatenga depended on electricity from Zimbabwe which was unreliable.

For his part SEZA CEO, Mr Lonely Mogara said the project was behind schedule due to the COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in suspension of works in 2020. 

He, however, said the project was expected to be completed by August.

He said Pandamatenga was a strategic place to achieve food security due to its climate that was suitable to the production of cereals. He also said the soils were fertile.

Mr Mogara said the P180m-silos would store a variety of grains including sorghum, maize, millet and beans. He said they were negotiating with Botswana Power Corporation to upgrade its infrastructure and install a transformer that would supply the plant and augment the power from across the border. Ends