Africa-Press – Botswana. Restrictions on the importation of vegetables and fruits have incentivised farmers to increase production.
The Director of Policy and Planning at the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA), Mr Jayson Sechele, said owing to the ban there had been a significant growth in local production of vegetables.
Speaking during a tour of some production areas in the Tuli special economic zone, Mr Sechele said there had been a marked growth in the production of potatoes. He said areas such as Ghanzi and Pandamatenga have established commercial potato farmers
He said Botswana imported potatoes with more than P400 million annually before the ban and that the restrictions forced farmers to grow potatoes and create jobs.He said small-scale potato farmers in Lerala and Sherwood had increased their production due to the ban.
He said the increased vegetable production would result in cheaper prices of imported vegetables.
Mr Sechele also said processing and preserving vegetable produce would generate more jobs, adding that by importing fruits and vegetables Batswana were denying themselves jobs.
He said for Bobirwa District to become a horticultural hub, especially the Tuli zone, there should be vegetable and fruit field officers with the requisite skills and know-how. The district had fertile soils and climatic conditions suitable for vegetable farming.
He said SEZA encouraged clustered farms with small-scale farmers contributing to the bigger horticultural basket.
He noted the citrus farm in Selebi-Phikwe as one of the big projects in the country. He said if Batswana could use their fields and plots to grow fruits the country could ultimately become self-sufficient.
Mr Daniel Makwana of Set Mak orange farm in Molalatau said government should forge relationships with farmers and consult them.
He said ministry officials should visit farms to aid their estimation of production.He said during their orange harvesting season, the government should deny anyone seeking a permit to import until the local produce had been depleted.
He said because the market was flooded with imported oranges, theirs went to waste and that imported oranges were cheaper.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
