Africa-Press – Botswana. Acting minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti says he is unable to state when the Mathangwane Agricultural Offices will be renovated, due to financial limitations.
Responding to a question in Parliament on Thursday, from Shashe West legislator, Mr Jeremiah Frenzel, the minister said the offices were budgeted for renovations during the 2025/2026 financial period but could not be carried out due to financial limitations and insufficient funding.
He said due to the same, the ministry was unable to state when the village of and Natale Japane lands would have their own specific agricultural officers.
Presently, Natale is assisted by an officer stationed in Shashemooke while farmers in Japane are assisted by an officer based in Borolong, Dr Dikoloti said, adding that the two areas had a combined number of about 120 farmers, which was at a ratio of 1:60 agricultural officer to a farmer.
He said the ratio far much better than other area which stood at 1:1 200 against the target ratio 1:100.
Dr Dikoloti said that the ministry was working on improving extension support through different means such as production clustering, and that the two areas could be assessed on their comparative or competitive advantage and facilitated accordingly.
He noted that the land overseers were paid a daily allowance equivalent to the sitting allowance of land board members and the review of their daily allowances was dependent on the review of the sitting allowance for land board members, but due to the prevailing financial situation, the ministry had no plans to review the allowances at the moment.
Mr Frenzel wanted the minister to state when the Mathangwane agricultural offices would be renovated and when the Natale and Japane lands would start being serviced by their own designated Agricultural Officer.
He also wanted the minister to state when the allowances for land-overseers would be reviewed to meet the current standard of living.
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