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