30 Jul 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected to officially open a new set of silos in Pandamatenga today and  also officiate at the Chobe Agricultural Show tomorrow. 

The new Pandamatenga facility boasts 12 steel silos with a total capacity of 60 000 metric tonnes, complementing an existing storage capacity of 30 000 metric tonnes. The expansion aims to enhance national food security by providing adequate storage for a variety of grains, including sorghum, maize, millet, beans, and sunflower.

The project is a government initiative, funded by the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) and managed on land provided by the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB). 

In an interview, SEZA Deputy CEO Mr Thatayaone Ndzinge confirmed that the P170 million project has been successfully completed and was ready to start storing harvests from the 2024 ploughing season. 

“The state-of-the-art storage infrastructure includes a weighbridge, external truck paths, a stormwater drainage system, a motor control room, and installations for electrical and instrumentation,” Mr Ndzinge stated. 

He added that SEZA identified insufficient storage as a significant barrier to the growth of Pandamatenga as a Special Economic Zone. 

The addition of the 60 000 metric tonnes of silo capacity will facilitate increased agricultural production by ensuring sufficient storage. 

“With the increased storage, we will be able to eliminate production bottlenecks, ensure produce is preserved in optimal conditions, reduce post-harvest losses, and safeguard our food supply,” he noted.

Moreover, Ndzinge highlighted that this development presents numerous opportunities, including job creation, a reduction in the food import bill, and support for small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). 

Despite this year’s drought conditions, farmers have shown keen interest and enthusiasm regarding the new storage facility, recognising the silos as a critical component for success beyond this year’s harvest. 

Concerning the Chobe Agricultural Show, Mr Ryan Neal, vice chairperson of the Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers, said the launch of the silos and the Agricultural Showw were strategically aligned as essential contributors to Botswana’s food production and security. 

Mr Neal informed that organisers have mobilised farmers and stakeholders from Chobe and across the country to ensure participation at the show. 

However, he noted that this year’s event had faced challenges due to a lower-than-average harvest resulting from inadequate rainfall this season. 

.“Normally we revolve the show around harvest to showcase the diversity of crops produced by Batswana but this year yields are very low but despite that, we are expecting to field a good show,” he noted. 

He pointed out that even the crops that were drought resistant grappled to endure the dry spell and the extreme heat that parched moisture from the soil. 

Mr Neal stated that the climate change scourge called for multi-sided approach and to apply the best farming practices, zero tillage, moisture conservation, stop deforestation, and rotate crops. 

He expressed gratitude for the financial subsidies disbursed to farmers to cushion them from the drought with 2023/24 declared an extreme agricultural drought year. Ends