08 Apr 2024

Government prioritises the agriculture sector as it has the potential to diversify the economy and improve livelihoods, says the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare.

He made the remarks recently during Ngamiland Farmers Field Day acknowledging North West Integrated Farmers’ Association (NWIFA) for finding it fit to host the first ever event in Ngamiland region saying their gesture would indeed create and nurture entrepreneurship environment in the region, an inspiration to many.

Government, he said, was committed to support such events as they had the potential to stimulate economic activity and ensured food security, adding that the event also resonated well with the ministry’s mandate on value chain development and to help build businesses and entrepreneurial ecosystem that would enable businesses to emerge, grow and export.

“As a ministry, we have the responsibility to drive the country’s economy to achieve the aspirations of Vision 2036 hence our role to provide guidance in entrepreneurship related issues,” he added. Appraising farmers on the value chain development recently, Mr Gare said the government was committed to the value chain development in an effort to help improve livelihoods, generate jobs and increase job opportunities for self-employment.

He said the government was also charged with facilitating small business growth and development of value chains which would allow for citizen economic inclusion and he appreciated that the field day was ideal as it helped to bring services closer to Batswana.

Value chain development, he said, would also open up other projects as all could not venture into farming citing that one of the key component of good entrepreneurship ecosystem was to have efficient and resilient value chains in keys sectors of the economy.

Mr Gare said that efforts were underway to open Tsabong abattoir, noting that Maun abattoir would also have a certificate so that it exports processed products.

“We have requested funding because we want to improve farming considering available lucrative markets,” he added. 

“We also in the process to improve the tannery plant because we have realized that leather manufacturing is profitable.”

He said he appreciated that the import ban on some horticulture products had contributed significantly in reducing imports and had also stimulated local production. 

The ban aimed to cushion locals by allowing the horticulture industry to develop and become competitive in the wake of ever-increasing trade liberalization.

He added: “Let us do more to increase production and unite in value chain development. We have taken a decision to create a central market which will operate around May/June to motivate you to manufacture products locally. Value chain development can help eradicate poverty and eventually achieve the envisaged vision 2036.”

Mr Elisha Mouti, the chairperson of  NWIFA, called on government to complete the construction of an agricultural service centre in Gumare which he said had long been planned for.

The facility, he said, was among the three being constructed at Mmathethe, Tonota, but there was no progress citing that the envisaged project could significantly benefit the farmers as they could use part of it as a storage for their harvest.

He also appreciated the agricultural initiatives in place aimed to improve their production. He said in Ngamiland they prided themselves with rearing of cattle of which some produced more milk and urged the government to allow them to supply schools with milk so that the benefit from their animals.

However, the president, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, who graced the event said plans were underway to make life better for the Ngamiland people. 

The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, was in the process of buying dairy goats and more pedigree cattle from Australia, New Zealand and America in an effort to create a thriving diary sector in Ngamiland region.  He also noted that Nokaneng quarantine would be electrified to protect it from continuous damage by elephants

The MP for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama, appreciated government efforts to ban importation of some horticulture products saying it was a good idea as it stimulated local production.

Mr Hikuama said Ngamiland residents relied on agriculture but they also co-existed with wildlife which terrorized residents as they relocated from their habitat to human settlements.  He called on the government to strike a balance between agriculture and tourism so that they equally benefit the communities. ENDS