Africa-Press – Botswana. A Mohembo-based horticulture farmer in the Okavango, Ms Kemo Begani has underscored the importance of associations in farming to feed the nation.
Ms Begani, who is the secretary of Botswana Horticulture Council (BoHoCo), recently participated in the Bangladeshi visit courtesy of the council and Office of the President.
Ms Begani was among 16 representatives from all districts and experts from institutions such as Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
She said in an interview that Bangladeshi farmers thrived because of associations; hence, Botswana farmers should take a leaf from that.
“Bangladeshi is a smaller country in size as compared to Botswana, but it is self-sufficient since farmers were empowered to produce more in groups,” she said.
She observed that associations helped farmers to be united and speak in one voice.
Some Batswana, she said were still reluctant to join associations thinking they may succeed as individuals, which worked against the country’s efforts to be self-sufficient.
Ms Begani said joining BoHoCo and Okavango Horticulture Farmers Association came in handy for her, hence encouraged fellow farmers to join associations
Ms Begani, who is the founder of Spring Blossom, said through the visit, she learnt the importance of having a speciality farming, which helped one to have expertise on how to manage and overcome challenges.
“For instance for horticultural farmers, one would learn the type of vegetable crop, the kind of weeds, pests and diseases that affect it which will make one to be an expert in that area,” she said.
She said the Bangladeshi developed their rice farming, which was something that Batswana could emulate by improving on staple crops such as sorghum and millet including their value additions.
She observed that Bangladeshi farmers were advanced in using technology such as drones to expedite produce, to detect diseases and pests hence she encouraged Botswana to explore the use of technology to maximise produce.
Ms Begani also highlighted the need to engage experts and researchers in farming as it was realised as one of the best practices in Bangladeshi.
She said as a farmer who joined the industry without relevant skills in 2020 after leaving her formal work, she appreciated capacity building platforms since passion on its own was not adequate for one to run a successful farming business.
She said post the visit; the group had compiled a report on findings and submitted to the Office of the President.
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