06 Feb 2014

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Development Agency (CEDA) has so far invested over P400 million in the agricultural sector, the agency’s chief executive officer has said.

Speaking at Mosisedi Commercial Farmers Association (MCFA) logo launch and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing, Mr Thabo Thamane said the agency had already invested P25.1 million to produce from an area of 5 413ha in MCFA.

The association is made up of two clusters of farmers in Sedibeng and Mosi, situated in Ngwaketse South and deals in arable farming. Mr Thamane said the investment made by CEDA in the agricultural sector showed that the agency had faith in the sector.

“We have always believed that citizens should not be spectators in their country’s economy, and as such we encourage them to play a vital role,” he said. He said CEDA would continue to understand the challenges faced by the agricultural community and would not give up on them, adding that gone were the days when farming was just a hobby or a retirement plan activity.

“We at CEDA believe that feeding the two million Batswana is our responsibility and everyone has a role in that process,” said Mr Thamane. Commercial farming, he said, should be done in its true sense as it requires key components such as electricity, technology and accessible roads.

“We should not be waiting for rain, but rather doing everything that we can to produce the maximum that we can by tapping into the latest technologies,” he said.

He said for CEDA to continue helping other citizens with funding, the Ministry of Agriculture should assist farmers to ensure success, so that CEDA could recoup the loans it gave out.

“One aspect that may help this sector is agricultural insurance and government should take a leading role because agricultural insurance is so expensive,” he said. Furthermore, he said a number of associations across the country have enjoyed CEDA assistance in the past and continue to do so.

The commercial farmers association objectives include amongst others to develop partnerships through which the association would receive express service from CEDA with specific regard to industry norms in grain production and being flexible to changing conditions in the world of arable farming, he said.

For his part, acting chair of MCFA,  Mr Quett Rabai said the event marks a milestone in the history of arable farming. “It is with great delight that we have partnered with CEDA on a business enterprise,” he said. “We also pledge that our association will produce three tonnes per hactare so that we can repay our loans,” said Mr Rabai.

He pleaded with the government to engage commercial banks and encourage them to assist aspiring farmers. “Pastoral farming loans and vehicle loans seem to be more important to banks than arable farming loans,” he said. A harvest day would be held on March 21, he said. ENDS