Africa-Press – Botswana. Chobe District leadership expressed concern over the unavailability of the National Development Bank (NDB) offices in the district.
They said due to the absence of NDB office most farmers had delayed in accessing loans for large scale farmers.
Temo Letlotlo guidelines provide that medium scale and large scale farmers, groups and clusters under the national food security component are provided with loans from NDB to provide seasonal inputs under.
During the Chobe leadership forum, Member of Parliament Mr Machana Shamukuni highlighted the importance of the Temo Letlotlo programme, emphasising that the presence of NDB agents was pivotal for its success.
However, he said the temporary deployment of bank agents at Pandamatenga left many farmers in Chobe Enclave without access to necessary financial support.
He said delaying farmers to access loans could cripple the national food security since Chobe Farmers through Pandamatenga contributed to 47 per cent to the national annual crop production.
The Acting Chobe District Agricultural Coordinator, Mr Baagi Chilume, stressed the need for NDB presence in the district and highlighted challenges faced by commercial farmers in registering for Temo Letlotlo.
He said Pandamatenga farmers were experiencing difficulties in registering for Temo Letlotlo since national Identity numbers was one one of the requirements for registration.
This, he said was due to the fact that most farmers were non-citizens.
He said all the 41 commercial farmers in Pandamatenga failed to register.
But, Mr Chilume said 106 farmers registered in Pandamatenga and Lesoma with 43 issued with grants and 63 awaiting loans from NDB.
In Parakarungu he said that 143 registered, 61 issued with grants while 82 were awaiting for loans from the bank.
For Satau, 74 farmers were registered 39 received grants and 35 awaiting loans while Kachikau recorded 41 farmers with nine issued with grants and 32 waiting for loans.
In Mabele/ Kavimba a total of 54 farmers had registered for the program with 27 having received grants and another 27 awaiting loans.
The absence of land allocation certificates further compounded the difficulties in accessing the program.
This is according to Chobe Land Board Chairperson, Ms Bwaambo Limbo, who also emphasised the importance of land documentation for accessing government programmes.
Therefore, she urged farmers to approach their Dikgosi for confirmation letters to facilitate their participation in such initiatives.
She further said details the number of registered farmers and the status of grants and loans in various areas within the Chobe District.
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