Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana
Mr Modukanele said farmers who did not have fields but wanted to use the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development could rent the ...
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Ramatlabama Rain Fed Production and Training Farm
GABORONE - The coordinator of National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) says he is optimistic that the programme will ...
Failure to attend meetings worries MP
Oct. 18 -- By Tshiamiso Mosetlhe MOLEPOLOLE - Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe, has criticised residents of Masilwana ward in his Molepolole South Constituency for not attending kgotla meetings and failing to register for the election over claims that some of them were terminated from destitution programme. Mr Kwelagobe said it was a shame for some Bakwena, who still raise concerns on the streets instead of articulating them in kgotla meetings to get clarifications. He said such people denied themselves their rights and government assistance programmes which were fully elaborated in kgotla meetings. Mr Kwelagobe, who started the meeting more than one and a half hours late, said Batswana culture was getting eroded. He said Botswana has been an envy of Africa in practicing values of freedom of speech, peace and stability, democracy and self-reliance but lack of attendance at kgotla meeting was weakening the consultation ethic. He underscored the fact that kgotla meetings served to disseminate information about development programmes. He said about voter apathy that over the years, Batswana registered for the election without complaints over food rations, saying some were not even receiving any assistance from the government. He said the government had given them freedom and opportunities to vote for any party or representatives of their choice. �Ba batla go rekwa ka dijo go ikwadisa, ke tshwanelo ya lona go ikwadisa��, he said, meaning that some people wanted to be rewarded with food rations if they registered for elections. Mr Kwelagobe also briefed them about shortage of water in Molepolole government�s strategies to arrest the situation. Mr Seelo Modukanele, the agricultural demonstrator in Molepolole, appealed to farmers to register with his office office, the idle fields that they wished to lease out. Mr Modukanele said farmers who did not have fields but wanted to use the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development could rent the fields of land owners who were unable to plough. He told the residents about the subsised prices of seeds. Commenting, residents decried shortage of water in Molepolole and reluctance of someo register for the 2009 general election. Mr Poloko Motlhobogwa, the councillor for Sebele, said some companies in Molepolole which he named for allegedly denying their workers permission to register for elections. Employees of such companies started work early and knocked off late. A youth who spoke at the meeting told Mr Kwelagobe that she was denied an opportunity to venture into small stock by a veterinary officer on pretext that she was childish. �Ke lekgarebe gaa kake a disa dipudi�, she claimed the officer said. This means she is too smart and cannot look after goats. BOPA
Farmers fear for the worst (20 December, 2002)
Farmers in Botswana are fearing for the worst as their cattle are dying by the hundreds due to lack of grazing and water. No ploughing has taken place in many areas due to the eminent drought. Should it continue, the situation will depict a bad year for agriculture, the sector that has seen its contribution to GDP drop from 40 per cent at independence in 1966 to 2.6 per cent yet many Batswana depend on it. And with the fading hope of the country ever having a robust agricultural sector, Batswana are looking at the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) to salvage the pieces.
Drafted by Israeli consults, TAHAL, the plan is seen as a crucial intervention by government to bring the sector back on its feet and help diversify the country economy currently based on diamond mining.
The year started badly with an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the Matsiloje area in February. And in order to eradicate the disease, some 12 000 cattle were destroyed and buried at Lephaneng and Rooikop 1 in the North East District.
In a move that was hailed by farmers, then lands, housing and environment minister, Jacob Nkate instructed landboards to allow farmers to drill boreholes in their ploughing fieldsthey and apply for water rights from the Water Apportionment Board.
Following concerns on veld fires, agriculture minister, Johnnie Swartz formulated a fire management policy to curb the problem.
Presenting his ministry’s budget to Parliament, he said the policy was expected to be implemented during 2002/3 financial year.
In March, the NAMPAADD was presented to Parliament and MPs hailed it as one policy that would significantly increase food and dairy production in the country.
Agriculture can be profitable in Botswana with the implementation of the right policies, input of modern technologies and related support services,” President Festus Mogae told a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) National Council meeting in Gaborone in April.
The plan states that despite unfavourable climatic and physical conditions, current production levels in all the investigated sub-sectors is far below the potential that can be achieved if modest technological and management interventions are adopted. And this explains the enthusiasm exhibited by MPs when they discussed and endorsed the plan.
Legislators Joy Phumaphi (Francistown East), Nkate (Ngami), Tshelang Masisi (Francistown West) and Ronald Sebego (Barolong) welcomed the plan because “it will enhance agricultural production in the country”.
Kgalagadi MP Lesedi Mothibamele said the plan must be extensively publicised and that government must introduce incentives to attract the youth into participating in the agricultural sector.
Palapye MP Boyce Sebetela welcomed the plan, but cautioned that in view of limited resources, government may not afford a simultaneous implementation of NAMPAADD and all other planned developments.
Sebetela, who was then assistant finance and development planning minister, said the agricultural sector should be given top priority supported by a requisite infrastructures in the rural areas.
Maitlhoko Mooka (Moshupa) warned that NAMPAADD would remain a pipedream if land delivery was not improved.
Gaborone North MP Michael Mzwinila said government was making piece meal approach to the development of agriculture because NAMPAADD would only concentrate on arable and dairy farming.
Mompati Merafhe (Mahalapye MP), spoke of farming fatigue among Batswana and attributed it to crop failure, lack of market and poor producer prices.
Agriculture minister, Swartz pointed out that tprivate sector involvement would be encouraged.
He added that highest priority in the development of rainfed farming would be given to areas of high production potential located in Barolong, Balete/Tlokweng, Tutume, Chobe, Ngwaketse-South, Tonota, Tati, Kgatleng, Machaneng and Mahalapye.
Still in April, government offered farmers 25 per cent subsidy on livestock feeds to cushion the effects of drought.
The livestock sub-sector is an important part of pastoral activity in the country and contributes 80 per cent of the agricultural GDP.
In July, Parliament rejected a motion by Okavangao MP Joseph Kavindama calling on the government to substantially increase compensation for farmers whose livestock are killed by predators.
Kavindama had argued that farmers be compensated at market value to save them from impoverishment.
The government started construction of a P1.5 million livestock marketing concentration centre in Selebi-Phikwe.
Director of Animal Health and Production Motshodi Raborokgwe said the facility would be a supermarket for livestock and handle about 500 head of cattle and 640 small stock.
Farmers will bring in animals for sale to interested parties such as butchers, shops and farmers. A network of similar centres will be built across the country.
In August, general manager of Botswana Ostrich Company Chris Bradshaw denied that his company’s decision to slaughter cattle instead of ostriches was a sign that the industry had failed at infancy.
He said the industry was just starting and that the decision was a temporary measure to prevent the expensive equipment from staying idle.
“Botswana’s arid conditions are suited for ostrich farming and there is no reason why the country cannot be the biggest ostrich and ostrich products exporter in the world,” he said.
Zimbabwe commercial farmers convened an impromptu meeting with Botswana government officials to explore opportunities of relocating here.
Then deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Masego Mphathi stated that the white farmers wanted large chunks of land on which they could continue with their farming activities.
“It is a pity that we do not have land. However, we have advised them to get into smart partnerships with the local farmers,” he said.
In October, assistant Minister of Agriculture Pelokgale Seloma regretted that though Botswana was self-sufficient in poultry production, the country was still heavily dependent on neighbouring countries for the supply of most requisites.
These included stock (broiler, hatching eggs and pullets), feeds and equipment.
Botswana imports about 70, 000 tonnes of vegetables a year. It is estimated that the country spent P18 million in the first seven months of 2001 on vegetables imports from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
It is everybody’s wish that NAMPAADD performs better than previous policies such as ALDEP and FAP, among others. However, the challenges are daunting and require determination by all stakeholders, particularly Batswana for the scheme to succeed.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Moremedi happy with the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development progress (3 September 2007)
The coordinator of National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) says he is optimistic that the programme will achieve its goals.
Speaking during a one-day NAMPAADD stakeholders workshop at Sebele on Friday, Mr Gagoitsewe Moremedi said although much has not been achieved, he was optimistic that the programme, which has a horizon implementation period of 10 years, will pass the litmus test.
NAMPAADD was started in 2003 after a consultancy study to investigate the constraints affecting the three agricultural sub-sectors in which Botswana has been underperforming.These sub sectors are dairy farming, irrigated agriculture and rain fed farming.
He said phase one of the programme at Ramatlabama Rain Fed Production and Training Farm (PTF), NAMPAAD has recruited 64 pilot farmers, trained 155 extension workers and trained 334 farmers on minimum tillage, spacing density, sowing techniques, fertilisation, weed control, use of hybrid seeds and soil sampling.Mr Moremedi said phase two has a selection of 34 pilot and seven model farmers while 177 farmers and 375 extension workers were trained.He, however, outlined the challenges facing rain fed agriculture, which....
Speaking during a one-day NAMPAADD stakeholders workshop at Sebele on Friday, Mr Gagoitsewe Moremedi said although much has not been achieved, he was optimistic that the programme, which has a horizon implementation period of 10 years, will pass the litmus test.
NAMPAADD was started in 2003 after a consultancy study to investigate the constraints affecting the three agricultural sub-sectors in which Botswana has been underperforming.These sub sectors are dairy farming, irrigated agriculture and rain fed farming.
He said phase one of the programme at Ramatlabama Rain Fed Production and Training Farm (PTF), NAMPAAD has recruited 64 pilot farmers, trained 155 extension workers and trained 334 farmers on minimum tillage, spacing density, sowing techniques, fertilisation, weed control, use of hybrid seeds and soil sampling.Mr Moremedi said phase two has a selection of 34 pilot and seven model farmers while 177 farmers and 375 extension workers were trained.He, however, outlined the challenges facing rain fed agriculture, which....
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Mookane and Shoshong residents doubt NAMPAADD success (05 August, 2003)
Mookane and Shoshong residents are pessimistic about the success of National Master Plan on Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD).
Residents expressed doubt about the success of NAMPAADD during kgotla meetings addressed by Assistant Minister of Agriculture Pelokgale Seloma.
Seloma briefed them on the new agricultural policy designed to improve food security and avoid dependency on neighbouring countries for the supply of agriculture products.
Mookane and Shoshong residents said NAMPAADD would not succeed because it was difficult for farmers to secure loans from CEDA and commercial banks.
They said while CEDA forms had many difficult requirements, commercial banks needed security and Batswana farmers did not have it.
They said CEDA did not approve applications of people who still have loans with SMME.
They alleged that CEDA rejected applications for rain fed agriculture.
They said Batswana farmers' security was their livestock because their lives were based on farming but commercial banks did not accept livestock as security.
Mookane residents said the requirement of a project memorandum made it impossible to access CEDA.
They said after the consultants have charged individuals for drawing up a project memorandum there was no guarantee that the applications would be approved However, Seloma told them that NAMPAADD was a programme that encouraged committed farmers to venture into commercial agriculture.
He added that if they treated NAMPAADD as business then they would know that for business to take off it required a business plan and market strategy.
Seloma also explained that Israelites were engaged because their climatic conditions were similar to Botswana's yet they produced enough food for the country and export.
He said NAMPAADD was introduced after realising that previous government assistant programmes did not produce satisfactory outcomes.
He said the government was concerned that a lot of money was spent importing agricultural products.
Seloma said there was no way Botswana could claim to be fully independent when it could not feed itself. BOPA
Residents expressed doubt about the success of NAMPAADD during kgotla meetings addressed by Assistant Minister of Agriculture Pelokgale Seloma.
Seloma briefed them on the new agricultural policy designed to improve food security and avoid dependency on neighbouring countries for the supply of agriculture products.
Mookane and Shoshong residents said NAMPAADD would not succeed because it was difficult for farmers to secure loans from CEDA and commercial banks.
They said while CEDA forms had many difficult requirements, commercial banks needed security and Batswana farmers did not have it.
They said CEDA did not approve applications of people who still have loans with SMME.
They alleged that CEDA rejected applications for rain fed agriculture.
They said Batswana farmers' security was their livestock because their lives were based on farming but commercial banks did not accept livestock as security.
Mookane residents said the requirement of a project memorandum made it impossible to access CEDA.
They said after the consultants have charged individuals for drawing up a project memorandum there was no guarantee that the applications would be approved However, Seloma told them that NAMPAADD was a programme that encouraged committed farmers to venture into commercial agriculture.
He added that if they treated NAMPAADD as business then they would know that for business to take off it required a business plan and market strategy.
Seloma also explained that Israelites were engaged because their climatic conditions were similar to Botswana's yet they produced enough food for the country and export.
He said NAMPAADD was introduced after realising that previous government assistant programmes did not produce satisfactory outcomes.
He said the government was concerned that a lot of money was spent importing agricultural products.
Seloma said there was no way Botswana could claim to be fully independent when it could not feed itself. BOPA
Commercial farming can succeed in Botswana (06 September, 2007)
GABORONE - Commercial farming has a future in Botswana if supportive systems and policies are put in place.
Dr Howard Sigwele, an agricultural and trade economic consultant, said at a recent NAMPAADD that conditions must be favourable for commercial rainfed horticulture and dairy farming to contribute to the economy.
These supportive systems include access to infrastructure, effective transfer of productive and appropriate technologies, appropriate sectoral and monetary policies, he said.
He maintained that farmers should have access to productive inputs, markets and financial assistance.Dr Sigwele said conflicts in policies, high tax, interest and inflation rates, together with over-valued currencies could affect commercial farming negatively.
He said competition laws had to be enforced to prevent smaller farmers from being pushed out of business both in the domestic and international markets.
They should be sustainable public and private investment in commercial farming ventures, he said. Effective pest and disease control must also be enforced to mitigate losses.
He advised that adequate trade safeguard mechanisms for small industries must also be implemented. BOPA
Dr Howard Sigwele, an agricultural and trade economic consultant, said at a recent NAMPAADD that conditions must be favourable for commercial rainfed horticulture and dairy farming to contribute to the economy.
These supportive systems include access to infrastructure, effective transfer of productive and appropriate technologies, appropriate sectoral and monetary policies, he said.
He maintained that farmers should have access to productive inputs, markets and financial assistance.Dr Sigwele said conflicts in policies, high tax, interest and inflation rates, together with over-valued currencies could affect commercial farming negatively.
He said competition laws had to be enforced to prevent smaller farmers from being pushed out of business both in the domestic and international markets.
They should be sustainable public and private investment in commercial farming ventures, he said. Effective pest and disease control must also be enforced to mitigate losses.
He advised that adequate trade safeguard mechanisms for small industries must also be implemented. BOPA
Politicians, technocrats a problem (10 September, 2007)
Mr Reatile said the agriculture sector could also form a centre piece of the economy of the town. He said the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) should provide something similar to Glen Valley where farmers could be provided with proper infrastructure to enable farmers in the Jwaneng area to produce.
JWANENG - Lack of innovation in planning is responsible for the concentration of developments and pressure on the city of Gaborone while the rest of the country remains underdeveloped, says Ngwaketse West MP.
Speaking Friday in an interview, Mr Mephato Reatile accused Botswana politicians and technocrats for failing to bring developments to the countryside, especially in the western part of the country, arguing that they are more concerned about Gaborone.
If it is not Gaborone, he said, development planners would rather consider towns and villages along the railway line.
What we are seeing is that our planners are only following the route of a British imperialist, Cecil John Rhodes, who built the railway line that linked the then Cape Colony and Rhodesia, he said.
Mr Reatile is critical of development planners, especially the technocrats and politicians whom he accused of failing to exploit the opportunities presented to Botswana by the Kgalagadi Desert.
He criticised them for neglecting Jwaneng, which he said was well known throughout the world for producing top-grade diamonds that were central to Botswanas economic success.
Jwaneng is the worlds richest diamond mine by value and contributes about 60 per cent of the Debswanas earnings according to the company.
Since diamond mining was commissioned in the early 1980s Botswana graduated from being one of the worlds poorest counties to a middle income status.
This rapid development is largely attributed to the impact of the Jwaneng Mine on the economy of Botswana. Mr Reatile said there was no excuse for denying Jwaneng the right to host the envisaged Diamond Park, but says this is due to the fact that technocrats always have Gaborone in mind thus depriving other parts of the country the right to gain monumental development.
He said he believed that the current thinking in Botswana was geared towards maintaining the status quo and was devoid of innovation. Because Jwaneng is not connected to the national railway line, it will never be considered suitable for development as an industrial town.
In his view, Jwaneng is ideal for industries as well as warehousing as it is a midway between Johannesburg in South Africa and Windhoek in Namibia and is closer to the Atlantic coast.
Mr Reatile said he was worried that Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and Botswana Exports Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) were not doing enough to market Botswana but instead are only concentrating on Gaborone and centers along the railway line.
He said he was disappointed that BDC and BEDIA were not doing enough to provide infrastructure in towns like Jwaneng which could stimulate industrialisation in the hinterland.
The lawmaker said Jwaneng, like Selebi-Phikwe, needed a contingency plan which would make the town economically sustainable after diamond mining was exhausted in future.
He challenged the Ministry of Lands and Housing to accord Jwaneng due attention as a measure to create a climate conducive for investment by servicing both residential and industrial plots as well as speeding up their allocation.
Mr Reatile said the agriculture sector could also form a centre piece of the economy of the town. He said the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) should provide something similar to Glen Valley where farmers could be provided with proper infrastructure to enable farmers in the Jwaneng area to produce.
The success of cattle, game ranching and arable farming, he said, could provide the foundation for the industrialisation of the town thus creating employment opportunities.
The legislator wants the government to decentralize many services from Gaborone and bring them closer to the people as another way of reducing pressure on Gaborone infrastructure and land. He is adamant that Jwaneng can be turned into a glittering desert city in the same way as Los Angeles in the United States of America.
The City of Los Angeles he contended, was established deep into the desert where there was no infrastructure but now it is one of the worlds famous cities because people who planned it had a vision of what they intended to achieve.
Mr Reatile said as Botswana was a vast country, it would not be fair to many citizens if developments are concentrated in the capital while citizens were distributed around the country with limited access to vital developments.
He added that the Kgalagadi part of Botswana has been sidelined for a long time despite the fact that it provides the bulk of the nations wealth through, diamonds, cattle and tourism.
The lawmaker believes the main reason why investors prefer Gaborone at the expense of rural and other urban centers emanates from the fact that government only has interest in the capital.
If the government has no interest in other places then no individual investor can.
Gaborone has suburbs called Phakalane, Mmokolodi and Notwane which are private and economically viable investments since they are closer to Gaborone. Nothing of this kind is possible anywhere else in the country because the government is not leading the way, he said.
Gaborone is everything to Botswana to an extent that the city seems to have eclipsed the country, he said. This should come to an end.
At present, Gaborone is not only regarded as Botswanas capital city but also an industrial city as well as the nations financial centre. BOPA
JWANENG - Lack of innovation in planning is responsible for the concentration of developments and pressure on the city of Gaborone while the rest of the country remains underdeveloped, says Ngwaketse West MP.
Speaking Friday in an interview, Mr Mephato Reatile accused Botswana politicians and technocrats for failing to bring developments to the countryside, especially in the western part of the country, arguing that they are more concerned about Gaborone.
If it is not Gaborone, he said, development planners would rather consider towns and villages along the railway line.
What we are seeing is that our planners are only following the route of a British imperialist, Cecil John Rhodes, who built the railway line that linked the then Cape Colony and Rhodesia, he said.
Mr Reatile is critical of development planners, especially the technocrats and politicians whom he accused of failing to exploit the opportunities presented to Botswana by the Kgalagadi Desert.
He criticised them for neglecting Jwaneng, which he said was well known throughout the world for producing top-grade diamonds that were central to Botswanas economic success.
Jwaneng is the worlds richest diamond mine by value and contributes about 60 per cent of the Debswanas earnings according to the company.
Since diamond mining was commissioned in the early 1980s Botswana graduated from being one of the worlds poorest counties to a middle income status.
This rapid development is largely attributed to the impact of the Jwaneng Mine on the economy of Botswana. Mr Reatile said there was no excuse for denying Jwaneng the right to host the envisaged Diamond Park, but says this is due to the fact that technocrats always have Gaborone in mind thus depriving other parts of the country the right to gain monumental development.
He said he believed that the current thinking in Botswana was geared towards maintaining the status quo and was devoid of innovation. Because Jwaneng is not connected to the national railway line, it will never be considered suitable for development as an industrial town.
In his view, Jwaneng is ideal for industries as well as warehousing as it is a midway between Johannesburg in South Africa and Windhoek in Namibia and is closer to the Atlantic coast.
Mr Reatile said he was worried that Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and Botswana Exports Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) were not doing enough to market Botswana but instead are only concentrating on Gaborone and centers along the railway line.
He said he was disappointed that BDC and BEDIA were not doing enough to provide infrastructure in towns like Jwaneng which could stimulate industrialisation in the hinterland.
The lawmaker said Jwaneng, like Selebi-Phikwe, needed a contingency plan which would make the town economically sustainable after diamond mining was exhausted in future.
He challenged the Ministry of Lands and Housing to accord Jwaneng due attention as a measure to create a climate conducive for investment by servicing both residential and industrial plots as well as speeding up their allocation.
Mr Reatile said the agriculture sector could also form a centre piece of the economy of the town. He said the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) should provide something similar to Glen Valley where farmers could be provided with proper infrastructure to enable farmers in the Jwaneng area to produce.
The success of cattle, game ranching and arable farming, he said, could provide the foundation for the industrialisation of the town thus creating employment opportunities.
The legislator wants the government to decentralize many services from Gaborone and bring them closer to the people as another way of reducing pressure on Gaborone infrastructure and land. He is adamant that Jwaneng can be turned into a glittering desert city in the same way as Los Angeles in the United States of America.
The City of Los Angeles he contended, was established deep into the desert where there was no infrastructure but now it is one of the worlds famous cities because people who planned it had a vision of what they intended to achieve.
Mr Reatile said as Botswana was a vast country, it would not be fair to many citizens if developments are concentrated in the capital while citizens were distributed around the country with limited access to vital developments.
He added that the Kgalagadi part of Botswana has been sidelined for a long time despite the fact that it provides the bulk of the nations wealth through, diamonds, cattle and tourism.
The lawmaker believes the main reason why investors prefer Gaborone at the expense of rural and other urban centers emanates from the fact that government only has interest in the capital.
If the government has no interest in other places then no individual investor can.
Gaborone has suburbs called Phakalane, Mmokolodi and Notwane which are private and economically viable investments since they are closer to Gaborone. Nothing of this kind is possible anywhere else in the country because the government is not leading the way, he said.
Gaborone is everything to Botswana to an extent that the city seems to have eclipsed the country, he said. This should come to an end.
At present, Gaborone is not only regarded as Botswanas capital city but also an industrial city as well as the nations financial centre. BOPA
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Moremedi happy with the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development progress
GABORONE - The coordinator of National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) says he is optimistic that the programme will achieve its goals.Speaking during a one-day NAMPAADD stakeholders workshop at Sebele on Friday, Mr Gagoitsewe Moremedi said although much has not been achieved, he was optimistic that the programme, which has a horizon implementation period of 10 years, will pass the litmus test.NAMPAADD was started in 2003 after a consultancy study to investigate the constraints affecting the three agricultural sub-sectors in which Botswana has been underperforming.These sub sectors are dairy farming, irrigated agriculture and rain fed farming.He said phase one of the programme at Ramatlabama Rain Fed Production and Training Farm (PTF), NAMPAAD has recruited 64 pilot farmers, trained 155 extension workers and trained 334 farmers on minimum tillage, spacing density, sowing techniques, fertilisation, weed control, use of hybrid seeds and soil sampling.Mr Moremedi said phase two has a selection of 34 pilot and seven model farmers while 177 farmers and 375 extension workers were trained.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
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Headline: Mines' Boss Advises Kweneng Farmers
Link:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708280459.html
27 August 2007: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
General Manager for Orapa and Letlhakane diamond mines, Sebetela Sebetela has warned farmers in Lentsweletau, Kweneng District to swim or sink after they failed to devise ways to overcome this year's drought.
The mine manager sounded the alarm bells because only 12 of the area's over 700 farmers have harvested this season. Sebetela was speaking at the Kweneng North 2007 Agricultural show held in the village, 60km North-West of Gaborone.
The theme of the show was: "Drought is a Natural Disaster; Be Bold To Face Its Effects". It was a year of despair for farmers in the region as only 142 ploughed, compared to the usual 737 who planted 3047.04 hectares in the previous season. The Department of Crop Production says that out of the 142 who ploughed, only 12 harvested.
Three of the 12 got 157.5kg of groundnuts at Kgope, six harvested 750kg of cowpeas at Medie, while the remaining three from Botlhapatlou harvested 120kg of sorghum. Sebetela told the farmers that their farming methods are partly to blame for the poor harvest. He advised them to diversify their farming methods or perish. He warned the farmers against planting one crop and urged them to diversify.
"It is paramount to plant those crops like groundnuts, cowpeas, jugo beans, watermelons, that have proved to be drought resistant as evidenced by those farmers at Medie, Kgope and Botlhapatlou, who managed to harvest something from their fields," he advised. He suggested that the farmers should start vegetable and fruit production farming. "It is imperative that diversification should be part of our daily consideration. We should be practising good ranch management where we could rotate our livestock in ranch's paddocks," he said. He suggested that farmers should diversify into keeping small stock, which are drought resistant as compared to cattle. "Small stock provide all products like meat, milk, skins, just like cattle," he added.
He told the farmers to plant fodder for feeding livestock during drought. Sebetela said people should also look into alternatives such as poultry and piggery, which could be more beneficial than the traditional farming.
He said Kweneng North has been chosen as a pilot project for the implementation of the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD). He urged the 25 farmers chosen to pilot some of the technologies such as minimum tillage, plant population, pest control and moisture conservation, to adapt well to the new systems and be a source of information to others.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Government confuses people Mokgwathi
Government confuses people Mokgwathi 27 July, 2007
PARLIAMENT - MP for Letlhakeng East, Mr Gordon Mokgwathi, has accussed governemnt of sending mixed signals to the nation.
Mr Mokgwathi said Batswana were told to revive agriculture through programmes such as the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development while on the other hand they are urged to leave farming by the draft Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) policy for tourism.
The MP was contributing to the debate on the draft CBNRM policy which was presented to Parliament by Environment, Wildlife and Tourism minister, Mr Kitso Mokaila.
However, Mr Mokgwathi, wanted to know how the policy was going to benefit those in his constituency as human-animal conflict was a daily occurence.
He said wild animals ate their crops and livestock.
These animals are very destructive, and now you are telling us that we should leave arable farming and venture into tourism to preserve them? He said he was wondering if the natural resources they are told to conserve had the potential to diversify the economy.
The minister should be specific when he talks about diversification of the economy as statistics show that 47 per cent of the population survive on agriculture, while 30 per cent are economically active, he said.
Mr Mokgwathi said he was reluctant to support the motion because it might not be binding on the excutive.
We have been told that policies adopted by Parliament might not be binding to the executive except for laws that have been passed, she added.
Mr Obakeng Moumakwa of Kgalagadi North said he had hoped the policy would correct past mistakes.
The problem now is that it appears the policy is taking us back as the objectives tend not to address the problems faced by community based organisations, he said.
Mr Moumakwa said the policy would not alleviate poverty because individuals tended to mismanage funds, which left the community with nothing.
He called for the Technical Advisory Committee, as the oversight authority over the community based organisations (CBOs) board to be empowered.
He also asked the minister to reconsider the 65 /35 per cent share split in favour of government and CBOs respectively as it would negatively affect the communities. BOPA
PARLIAMENT - MP for Letlhakeng East, Mr Gordon Mokgwathi, has accussed governemnt of sending mixed signals to the nation.
Mr Mokgwathi said Batswana were told to revive agriculture through programmes such as the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development while on the other hand they are urged to leave farming by the draft Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) policy for tourism.
The MP was contributing to the debate on the draft CBNRM policy which was presented to Parliament by Environment, Wildlife and Tourism minister, Mr Kitso Mokaila.
However, Mr Mokgwathi, wanted to know how the policy was going to benefit those in his constituency as human-animal conflict was a daily occurence.
He said wild animals ate their crops and livestock.
These animals are very destructive, and now you are telling us that we should leave arable farming and venture into tourism to preserve them? He said he was wondering if the natural resources they are told to conserve had the potential to diversify the economy.
The minister should be specific when he talks about diversification of the economy as statistics show that 47 per cent of the population survive on agriculture, while 30 per cent are economically active, he said.
Mr Mokgwathi said he was reluctant to support the motion because it might not be binding on the excutive.
We have been told that policies adopted by Parliament might not be binding to the executive except for laws that have been passed, she added.
Mr Obakeng Moumakwa of Kgalagadi North said he had hoped the policy would correct past mistakes.
The problem now is that it appears the policy is taking us back as the objectives tend not to address the problems faced by community based organisations, he said.
Mr Moumakwa said the policy would not alleviate poverty because individuals tended to mismanage funds, which left the community with nothing.
He called for the Technical Advisory Committee, as the oversight authority over the community based organisations (CBOs) board to be empowered.
He also asked the minister to reconsider the 65 /35 per cent share split in favour of government and CBOs respectively as it would negatively affect the communities. BOPA
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Madagascar: Links With Madagascar Could Benefit ...
allAfrica.com: Madagascar: Links With Madagascar Could Benefit ...
... he said pointing to the development of the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAAD), which has just started. ...
... he said pointing to the development of the National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAAD), which has just started. ...
Tlokweng residents differ on DDP 6
Tlokweng residents differ on DDP 6
Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana
NAMPAADD is also not on our side because we have no land for hectares required and the worst part we are accommodating all tribes from Gaborone and the ...
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Group discussions on sub-visions
Annex II - Group discussions on sub-visions
Linkages: NAMPAADD, NMPWWS. Issue: ineffective and inefficient framing outreach programmes ... Linkages: NAMPAADD. Issue: lack of adequate draught power ...
Linkages: NAMPAADD, NMPWWS. Issue: ineffective and inefficient framing outreach programmes ... Linkages: NAMPAADD. Issue: lack of adequate draught power ...
The Baffling Fiasco Around Nampaad
allAfrica.com: Botswana: The Baffling Fiasco Around Nampaad
And these are the sizes required by NAMPAADD. ... The solution was to have harmonised policies long before NAMPAADD could be implemented. ...
And these are the sizes required by NAMPAADD. ... The solution was to have harmonised policies long before NAMPAADD could be implemented. ...
Tender Awards from Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board ...
Tender Awards from Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board ...
Tender Title: Ministry of Agriculture (NAMPAADD)'s recommendation to award the tender for the purchase of milk from NAMPAADD Dairy Production and Training ...
Tender Title: Ministry of Agriculture (NAMPAADD)'s recommendation to award the tender for the purchase of milk from NAMPAADD Dairy Production and Training ...
Ongoing Negotiations Between NAMPAADD & RIPCO
BOPA Daily News Archive
LOBATSE - Negotiations were ongoing between National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) and the Rural Industries Promotion ...
LOBATSE - Negotiations were ongoing between National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) and the Rural Industries Promotion ...
NAMPAADD Guidelines
National Master Plan for the Arable Agriculture and Dairy ...
The NAMPAADD study confirmed that the potential for commercial horticultural .... 15.1 To oversee the implementation of the plan, a NAMPAADD Implementation ...
The NAMPAADD study confirmed that the potential for commercial horticultural .... 15.1 To oversee the implementation of the plan, a NAMPAADD Implementation ...
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Purpose: Field day organized by Ministry of ...
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Purpose: Field day organized by Ministry of ...
(NAMPAADD), the Botswana Government is providing extension advice to .... Master Plan For Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) ...
(NAMPAADD), the Botswana Government is providing extension advice to .... Master Plan For Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) ...
Land shortage major challenge for Ramotswa
Land shortage major challenge for Ramotswa
Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana
RAMOTSWA - Residents of Ramotswa have cried foul about the implementation of National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) ...
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Botswana: The Baffling Fiasco Around Nampaad
allAfrica.com: Botswana: The Baffling Fiasco Around Nampaad
And these are the sizes required by NAMPAADD. ... The solution was to have harmonised policies long before NAMPAADD could be implemented. ...
And these are the sizes required by NAMPAADD. ... The solution was to have harmonised policies long before NAMPAADD could be implemented. ...
Annex II - Group discussions on sub-visions
Annex II - Group discussions on sub-visions
Linkages: NAMPAADD, NMPWWS. Issue: ineffective and inefficient framing outreach programmes ... Linkages: NAMPAADD. Issue: lack of adequate draught power ...
Linkages: NAMPAADD, NMPWWS. Issue: ineffective and inefficient framing outreach programmes ... Linkages: NAMPAADD. Issue: lack of adequate draught power ...
Ten pilot farmers were selected for irrigated agriculture under NAMPAADD
BOPA Daily News Archive
Ten pilot farmers were selected for irrigated agriculture under NAMPAADD, ... Swartz said the ministry was now focusing on phase two of NAMPAADD, ...
Ten pilot farmers were selected for irrigated agriculture under NAMPAADD, ... Swartz said the ministry was now focusing on phase two of NAMPAADD, ...
Why should NAMPAADD fare better than earlier programmes?
Mmegi Online ::> news we need to know
Why should NAMPAADD fare better than earlier programmes? 4/23/2004 12:55:36 AM (GMT +2) READING the Chapter on Agriculture in NDP 9 is like having read the ...
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