19 Feb 2014

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe says agriculture can be used as a base for economic diversification and employment creation.

Debating the 2014/15 budget proposals, Dr Kedikilwe, who is also MP for Mmadinare, said agriculture production had increased since government introduced ISPAAD and that he was expecting a good harvest this year following favourable rainfall.

Dr Kedikilwe commended farmers who were not discouraged by the drought and inadequate rainfall and were able to do more with the support they received from the government.

He said there were opportunities and farmers needed encouragement to employ modern farming methods such as row planting and irrigation including recycling of water.

Dr Kedikilwe said some villages such as those around Ntimbale Dam could share resources through a cluster to enable recycled water to be used for purposes such as planting and ultimately provide employment, food and sustainability.

The use of fodder and continued subsidies such as through Livestock Advisory Council (LAC) should continue because it was the right direction adding this would not only be offered during drought as government would continue supporting agriculture.

Design for the water pipeline at the Chobe/Zambezi Water Project was completed in October last year, the Vice President said.

He said it was also critical to provide farmers with education as it enhances farming methods as they are trained in areas such as correct fertilization and weeding.

Service providers should also be trained and the University of Agriculture and Natural Resources should also undertake research on the various types of seeds in order to increase yields, he said.

The Vice President said there was need to protect crops in order for ISPAAD to bear some fruits as farmers have come up with various methods to protect their produce from elephants.

Cattle ravage also threatens to nullify ISPAAD progress saying consultations have started with stakeholders such as members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi in order to amend the law to increase the powers of Dikgosi to deal with cattle owners when their cattle stray into plantations.

He said it was about time to take due notice saying previously it was a simple amicable manner involving the cattle owner and field owner but today some cattle owners are not cooperative.

Dr Kedikilwe welcomed measures implemented by the minister of agriculture to curb foot and mouth saying the demarcation of Zone 7 should be done as soon as possible.

He said Botswana Agriculture Marketing Board (BAMB) prizes are encouraging adding the contract farming does not affect prizing at the time of sales.

The Vice President said already there are signs of improvement such as provision of infrastructure, cluster farming while the ultimate goal is to provide electricity in the farming lands.

Dr Kedikilwe also dismissed reports that he has failed to deliver during his tenure at the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, saying he has delivered three dams, Dikgatlhong, Lotsane and Thune, with the former being the biggest dam in the country at 400 million cubic metres.

Dikgatlhong dam, located in Robelela, is currently over flowing, he said. The Lotsane and Thune dams would also be used for agricultural purposes, thus introducing 600 additional hectares, he said.

He further said 495 million cubic metres of water is to be extracted from Chobe/Zambezi, yet people say his leadership has failed. He said Maun is currently being provided with 6000 kilo litres of water per day under the Maun Service Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 which was scheduled to be delivered this month at a cost of P61 million.

Dr Kedikilwe was responding to comments from the MP for Gaborone West North Mr Robert Masitara who said people who held positions before the appointment of ministers Dr Venson-Moitoi and Mr Kitso Mokaila should be taken before a commission of inquiry to answer for the decisions they took years ago which have adversely affected this country, citing the delayed Morupule B power station project. ENDS