In a recent update on citrus farming in Botswana, agricultural extension officer Oarabile Letsatsi said that in 2020 and 2021, an increased number of farmers imported citrus seedlings to start production.
According to the country’s assistant minister of agriculture, Molebatsi Molebatsi, among the projects expected to start production shortly was a multimillion-rand project, which was targeting both local and export markets, including the US and UK.
Molebatsi said the agriculture ministry was supporting these citrus projects, which included this flagship project developed on a 1 200ha farm near Selibe-Phikwe.
He said the Selibe-Phikwe Citrus project had been developed by South African investors in conjunction with the Botswanan government as a way to boost foreign direct investment and build an export-led economy. “The project is expected to bring foreign investment to the value of around P500 million [about R655 million]. It will also enable skills transfer, as the investors are not [opposed] to the idea of allowing local citrus farmers to benchmark [their operation against] the project. This could help expand citrus farming in Botswana,” Molebatsi said.
Source: farmersweekly.co.za