07 Feb 2024

Temo Letlotlo aims to bolster food security by advocating crop diversification and utilising climate-smart technologies to bolster crop resilience against climate-related uncertainties.

Updating Parliament on the progress of the programme on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Mr Fidelis Molao emphasised that the program operates on a production and output incentive system, with a primary goal of enhancing food security nationwide.

The programme encompasses two key components: household food security and national food security. The former provides a 100 per cent subsidy to micro-scale farmers and  targeted towards those without a wage or monthly income of up to P4 000, a segment of the population that is not taxable. 

On the other hand, Mr Molao saiid the national food security component targeted individual small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale farmers, as well as clusters, providing them with seasonal loans at prime rates through the National Development Bank for the purchase of seasonal inputs.

Minister Molao also highlighted the developmental aspect of the Temo Letlotlo programme, including a 50 per cent subsidy for fencing, tractors, and implements for both categories, with the intention of encouraging farmers to progress from one category to another.

According to Mr Molao, the programme is designed to focus on 13 priority crops, channeled into 25 distinct product spaces, with the core objective being wealth creation through value addition. 

It also features agro-ecological mapping, which educates and empowers farmers to make informed crop selections for optimal and high-yielding outcomes based on their specific ecological and climatic conditions. 

The minister, since its launch in October last year, the programme has disbursed over P43 million to seed supplies and P1.8 million to tractor service providers. Furthermore, the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board has distributed nearly 60 000 fertilizer bags to approximately 7 500 micro-scale farmers across the country.

Additionally, Minister Molao noted that farmers using animal draught power were treated as service providers and were remunerated for ploughing services, with over 900 registered animal draught power service providers offering services to farmers and themselves. 

The programme also accommodates farmers who use bushes to fence their farms to apply for a grant.

In response to the minister’s update, Sefare/Ramokgonami MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, criticised the government for rolling out the programme without a pilot phase. 

He stressed the importance of piloting new programmes to prepare for potential challenges and recommended conducting stakeholder engagement meetings and public education forums prior to implementation.

However, Ghanzi South MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai, commended  government for the programme saying it  accommodated small-scale farmers.

 But, he  urged the government to enhance internet connectivity across the country. 

He expressed concerns about recurring malfunctions in the government system hindering the smooth implementation of programs.” Ends