Africa-Press – Botswana. Prioritising transformation of the agriculture sector is key as it remains the most direct channel for job creation with high uptake of most of the population self -employed in agricultural activities.
Delivering the 2024/25 Budget Speech yesterday, Finance minister, Ms Peggy Serame said higher agricultural productivity and output would promote food security and self-sufficiency hence it was necessary to support infrastructure, including access roads to production centres.
Ms Serame said government would through programmes such as Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo, support micro, small, medium and large farmers through financial assistance and provision of inputs.
She said the Temo Letlotlo programme would promote self reliance and help Batswana to produce food for their families and the nation,
The success of the programme, Minister of Finance Ms Peggy Serame said when delivering the 2024 Budget Speech on Monday, hinged upon collaborative efforts of all key stakeholders including beneficiaries.
Another new flagship programme, Thuo Letlotlo was expected to be launched during the 2024/2025 financial year, the minister said.
“The programme will serve as a catalyst to our animal production sector by increasing the national herd and enhancing breed quality,” she said.
Minister Serame said the initiative would enable Batswana to take advantage of government’s Artificial Insemination programme meant to improve the current quantity and quality of breeding stock across the country.
Further, she said Ministry of Agriculture was currently addressing unsatisfactory agricultural production by releasing land parcels for private investment and farmers use.
“To date, eight plots are being subdivided for leasing to investors in Molopo Farms, while 14 small stock farms will be subdivided into 57 smaller plots for potential leasing to small stock farmers in different parts of the country.”
In this regard, she said, development budget of P2.82 billion was being proposed for agriculture development to support Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo compared to the P2.66 billion in the current financial year.
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