13 Mar 2014

The government is committed to developing infrastructure in agricultural production zones to enhance food security, says President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Speaking during kgotla meetings in Mokgomane and Magoriapitse on March 13, President Khama said the government would identify agricultural production zones across the country.

President Khama noted that  under the National Development Plan 9 (NDP9), the government had planned to develop  telecommunications infrastructure and to reticulate water and electricity to farms in order to enable farmers to keep up with modern farming technics for better yields. He said the initiative was hamstrung by the global economic crisis.

President Khama said the  government was still commitment to the initiative, adding that farmers would be required to meet the government half way in connecting electricity and telecommunications infrastruture  to their farms. Mr Ofentse Phadile, had asked President Khama when the government would start reticulating water and electricity to farms to enable farmers to farm optimally.

President Khama also urged farmers and Batswana in general to thank God for the good rains that continue to shower the country. He said it was imperative to thank God for answering their prayers.

On other issues, President Khama apologised to the nation for the power outages that have hit the country. “We have learnt from the experience and we are not going to have the same problem again in the future,” he said.

President Khama donated footballs, blankets, track suits and Bibles to youth groups, the elderly and different Christian denominations in the two villages. He urged  church leaders to teach residents of the two villages the word of God.

For his part, Kgosi Mokgabisi Selerio of Mokgomane complained about salty water in his village. He also urged public officers to reach out to rural communities to enable them to benefit from government programmes and initiatives.

President Khama was accompanied  by the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi and minerals, energy and water resources minister, Mr Kitso Mokaila, who is also the MP for Barolong constituency.  BOPA