06 Aug 2023

Pandamatenga farmers have been hailed for contributing positively to the agricultural sector and economy in the reduction of the food import bill.

Giving a keynote address at the Chobe Agricultural show in Pandamatenga on Saturday(August 5), Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane said Pandamatenga contributed 47 per cent to the national annual crop production, an achievement that could only be earned through hard work and commitment.

Since the area is also well positioned as it shares borders  with three countries which makes accessibility to international markets easy, he said it had been identified as a special economic zone for agro industry development.

This encompassed farmland, agricultural supply chain, support infrastructure, storage and processing facilities.

The Vice President, however, implored food producers to feed Botswana first before exporting their produce, emphasising that food security meant that food produced locally should fulfil the demands of Batswana and subsequently export excess to other markets.

To this end, he stated that in April this year, government took the decision to restrict the exportation and importation of key grains as maize and sorghum, to improve domestic production and ensure self-sufficiency.

He said the theme: Unity and technology for Chobe, filling the Botswana food basket, resonated with the Reset Agenda, which called for mindset change to ensure that Batswana were able to feed themselves and create employment.

The Minister of Agriculture Mr Fidelis Molao said climate change called for climate smart agricultural practices to boost production levels.

Mr Molao said Chobe farmers produced at an impressive rate with an increasing trend of production of horticulture products from 4 880 tonnes in 2020/21 to 12 171.33 tonnes in 2022/23.

However, he indicated that there was a decline of cereals and legumes.

He said government had implemented relief measures to cushion against drought year with a 30 per cent livestock feed subsidy while the Ministry of Finance would pay 40 per cent of seasonal loans for farmers who received loans from CEDA and NDB for rain-fed arable farming.

Furthermore, he said government would provide grants at 100 per cent for solar electrification of field fences in elephant-prone areas and 50 per cent subsidy for antibiotics for treatment of animals with bont tick and dermatophytosis (senkobo) in Okavango and North West Districts.

Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association Chairperson Mr Jaco Strachan shared that they had experienced a decline in harvest over the recent years due to extreme drought.

He stated that with the envisaged Agro-Zambezi water scheme, some farmers had already installed irrigation infrastructure in their farms awaiting commencement of  the project.

However, he indicated that irrigation demanded more power supply to increase production levels of which horticultural farmers were currently depending on generators due to the inadequate supply from the village power grid.

Mr Strachan called on fellow farmers to embrace technology and improve infrastructure to increase production.

Chobe Member of Parliament Mr Machana Shamukuni said Pandamatenga, as a special economic zone, presented immense opportunities in food production and agro-tourism.

He said the unreliable power supply in the village posed a major challenge in farming as the village grid was connected from a source in Zimbabwe. 

Mr Shamukuni said farmers needed to embrace new technology and smart farming practices to enhance production.

Kgosi David Mafikizolo of Pandamatenga highlighted that the village was growing and creating many jobs for people who migrated to the area to work in farms. 

He commended farmers for their courage to soldier on every year despite poor rains. ends