01 Aug 2024

The commissioning of a new set of silos in Pandamatenga is motivation to Chobe District farmers to effectively utilise their ploughing fields to increase production and improve food security says Chobe, Member of Parliament.

Mr Machana Shamukuni said farmers would now have no excuse to produce more as government had constructed state of the art storage facility for their harvest.

Government through Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) constructed a set of 12 silos to bring the total number to 18 with a storage capacity of 60 000 metric tonnes.

Mr Shamukuni who is also Minister of Justice made the remarks Wednesday during the commissioning of the silos and stated that residents would put them to good use.

He said they were constructed following complaints from farmers that the existing ones did not have sufficient capacity for their harvest, and hailed the government for responding positively to their plea.

“The commissioning of these silos are a testament to the government commitment to delivering its promises and I making an assurance that famers in our district will strive to increase their production to fill up the all the silos. In two years’ time, we will make another request to construct more the silos,” he added.

Furthermore, he appreciated that the silos would not only benefit the farmers but projects in agro-processing sector as well.

Mr Shamukuni noted that it was government’s wish to see big trucks transporting variety of products from Pandamatenga to other countries.

He said such trucks from South Africa were transiting through Pandamattenga exporting products to countries as Democratic of Republic of Congo and Zambia among others.

Mr Shamukuni urged stakeholders in the agriculture sector to work as a team, to ensure the silos produced expected results.

The aim is to empower Batswana to become self-reliant and eventually improve quality of their lives, Mr Shamukuni said.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela thanked Chobe Land board for availing land for the project saying Pandamatenga was demarcated as one of the special economic zones, to foster economic growth and empower Batswana to venture into farming, feed the nation and sell surplus.

It was reported that the board had allocated 97 000 hectares of land of which 45 000 was used by commercial farmers in the area.

Mr Kgafela said that SEZA was transforming the area into an agriculture hub that combined modern farming and appreciated those who played a key role towards success of the project.

He was hopeful that the silos would facilitate more agro- production from the farms.

Mr Kgafela said the project was one of government’s promises aimed to ensure advancement of the agricultural sector and contribute to the growth of the economy.

“We want to produce products that can penetrate the global space and compete with other countries. I believe these silos will boost food and agro production,” he added. Ends