On Wednesday, President Mokgweetsi Masisi celebrated the inaugural harvest of the Selebi Phikwe Citrus Project (SPC), an important development since its inception on December 11, 2020. The project, covering 1500 hectares with an investment of P300 million, extends beyond citrus production.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Molebatsi Molebatsi, elaborated on the project's potential to spur value chain opportunities and foster the growth of multimillion-dollar industries. During the media briefing for the First Harvest, Molebatsi addressed the critical need for self-sufficiency, highlighting the rising fertilizer import costs, with SPC's spending exceeding P11 million to date.
The initiative aligns with Botash's 'Double in Five' strategy, aiming to produce premium fertilizer from Sulphate of Potash (SoP), making Selebi Phikwe an ideal location for such a facility. SoP is crucial for enhancing plant resilience and productivity. The project also explores using fly ash from Morupule for soil improvement, with over P16 million spent on agro-chemicals, signaling opportunities for local production and research. Additionally, the SPC opens avenues for agro-processing industries, including juice, jam, dried fruits, and gin production.
[ P10 = €0.67 ]
Source: thevoicebw.com