13 Aug 2026

The Lemang Dijo Programme Coordinator, Mr Oratile Monthe, says government will continue allocating one-hectare plots to small-scale farmers under the programme, while encouraging  them to adopt techniques that can improve productivity and increase yields. Mr Monthe informed farmers in Kgoro in the Good Hope District about the importance of maximising moisture to enhance food production. He advised farmers during the Kgoro cluster harvest day in Kgoro on Tuesday.  

He noted that about 7 300 farmers in Good Hope District registered for the Lemang Dijo Programme in the 2025/2026 planting season, saying only 2 000 farmers managed to plant, producing around 3 000 tonnes, citing a long dry spell during the ploughing season as the reason why most farmers failed to plough.

He highlighted that the Lemang Dijo Programme was still available to farmers in the 2026/2027 planting season, urging farmers to implement methods that would maximise production.

Mr Monthe said around 1 400 beehive vouchers were issued countrywide, with only 60 allocated in Goodhope District. 

He urgerd farmers to consider bee-keeping, saying the bees were good because they help with pollination, and also assisted farmers to have surplus honey to sell, with the profits helping with day to day running of the farm.

For his part the Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix of Botswana, Mr Carlson Chiswo, says the Kgoro Model Farm was a proof that small-scale farmers could grow food for future generations. 

Mr Chiswo stated that the initiative had proved effective in addressing issues related to food management and reducing risk.

He mentioned that the project had also shown that vegetables could be grown with very minimal water. He stated that the Kgoro Model Farm had also brought economic benefits to the community by employing 40 residents of Kgoro and neighbouring villages.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Tshokologo Kganetsano highlighted the necessity of mitigating risks in the agricultural value chain.

Dr Kganetsano stated that de-risking agriculture created an environment where farmers, financiers and consumers could participate in the agriculture value chain with certainty and resilience. 

He indicated that the Government of Botswana engaged Phoenix of Botswana Assurance Company to develop, oversee and administer the revised Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme. ends