Botswana: Agricultural sector in upward turn

President LtGen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has applauded the agricultural sector for showing commendable strides since the establishment of the Agricultural Hub.

In presenting the State of the Nation address on Friday at the National Assembly, Gen. Khama said the agricultural hub had been established as a catalyst for the greater commercialisation and diversification of the agricultural sector as well as to improve food security.

President Khama said over the past 12 months government had been encouraged by the publics embrace of the newly introduced Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD), which provided farmers with assistance in the form of seed, fertilisers, water and cluster fencing.

He said ISPAAD resulted in near threefold expansion of the area under cultivation to a total of 298 300 hectares, with a consequent rise in crop yields.

This years cereal production is currently confirmed at 67 482 metric tonnes, which is already a significant improvement over last year. ISPAAD will thus be continued in this coming season, explained President Khama.

President Khama said currently amongst the Hubs key projects are the third phase of the National Agricultural Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAAD), the Zambezi Agro Commercial Integrated Development Project and efforts aimed at improving the national beef herd including the restructuring of the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) and reorganisation of Banyana Farms.

NAMPAADs third phase is aimed at assisting farmers to become commercially viable.

Production targets associated with the plan include the provision of 50 per cent of the countrys sorghum and maize requirements, 80 per cent of fresh fruits and vegetables and 45 per cent of liquid milk, said President Khama.

He said to implement the programme, the production and training farms established during NAMPAADs second phase will be facilitated to operate as business entities in their own right while continuing to provide practical training.

President Khama said the objective of the Zambezi project at Pandamatenga was to develop agricultural production on a large commercial scale in northern of Botswana.

The project has been earmarked to include 20 000 hectares of irrigated land, aquaculture, poultry, dairy farming, oil production and fruit and vegetable processing facilities.

He highlighted that the countrys estimated national beef herd numbers were about 2.5 million, of which over 80 per cent was held in communal areas.

If our beef exports are to be maintained or increased, it is imperative that we shift toward weaner and feedlot production, he added.

In addition to this, President Khama said the four main drivers had been identified to implement the plan, namely better pricing and marketing, improved herd management, genetic improvement and best practice education.

As a challenge towards the agriculture sector, Gen. Khama said financial institutions had often been reluctant to offer loans to farmers in the absence of an agricultural insurance scheme, thus government is encouraging the setting up of such a scheme.

He said government was also undertaking a Botswana Agricultural Sector Review to develop a consolidated turn around strategy for the sector.

Gen. Khama also noted that the Young Farmers Fund was progressing with 251 project approvals totaling P97 638 million.

He said progress has also been reported in efforts to refurbish and re-open the Maun abattoir which is expected to be operational by the first quarter of next year.


Source: gov.bw

Publication date: 11/18/2009

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