06 Sep 2024

STORY ON PAGE 6 - MONDAY SEPT 9

Farming continues to play a meaningful role in the lives of the people and in growing Botswana’s economy.

Speaking at the Agrifeed 20^th anniversary celebration in Gaborone on September 5, Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao said agriculture was an economic trajectory for President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi-led government.

The Minister said the centrality of agriculture in the country’s economy, had set it as a high priority for creating wealth for the people were evidenced by the establishment of Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo programmes. 

 As such Mr Molao described agriculture as a way of life in Botswana in the sense that every Motswana in every household partook in an agricultural pursuit in one form or the other.

 “Everything else can stop, but agriculture. We know if agriculture was to stop, all of us would perish,” he said, adding that such entities as Agrifeed played a significant role in nurturing agricultural undertakings at the household level.

 As a piece of advice, Minister Molao told Agrifeed, which was established in Mahalapye in 2004 and had a staff compliment of 300, about the importance of human resource as an investment in every business, adding that the company should value its employees and remunerate them satisfactorily in appreciation of their dedication to the business.

He further appreciated that Agrifeed participated in almost all government initiatives geared towards assisting farmers such as implementing the drought relief measures through the 30 per cent livestock subsidies that the government had introduced.

A former employee and veterinary doctor, Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said what Agrifeed was doing was aligned to the Reset Agenda.

 Dr Dikoloti requested Agrifeed to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture to train young people who may be attracted to the same business undertaking, adding that the company could also help with skills sharing so as to empower young people. He commended Agrifeed for playing a major role in revolutionising the agricultural pharmaceutical retailing in Botswana, thereby creating employment for the citizens.

 He said Thuo Letlotlo had around 30 packages, some of which Agrifeed could pick and work around in partnership with some youths to create wealth and employment.

Dr Dikoloti advised the youth to borrow a leaf from Agrifeed managing director, Mr Ronak Upadhyay by starting small with the little resources they could garner and see their businesses grow steadily. “Ha wena o batla warehouse e tonatona, Ronak would find just that corner and make money from that corner,” he said. Ends