Africa-Press – Botswana. Farmers have been encouraged to adopt technology to improve production. Speaking at I 11 farming cluster field day in Kwakwadi ranch in the Letlhakeng region on Saturday, Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni urged farmers to embrace technology as an integral part of farming to propel agriculture to greater heights.
He said the agricultural sector could not afford to be left behind in adopting methods that would bring increased and secure production.
Mr Shamukuni, also MP for Chobe said the role of technology in transforming agricultural industry remained critical as emerging technologies were crucial in addressing challenges in agriculture, at the same time, enhancing efficiency and ramping up production. He said even countries which Botswana was looking up to, where agriculture was industrialised, had adopted technology into the Agriculture sector. Mr Shamukuni said there was a need to bridge the digital geographical divide, saying access to Information and Communication Technology platforms at farms would encourage and motivate young people to participate in farming.
“Do not deny children the privilege that they would enjoy in urban areas, they should be able to communicate with others, play games and the internet should be available,” he said.
Mr Shamukuni called on farmers to pursue farming as a business and encouraged them to involve their family members in farming to ensure that it became a generational wealth. The theme of the event, “Towards Sustainable Agriculture; Bridging the Gap through Technology, sought to harness technology for sustainable agriculture. Mr Shamukuni said it was in line with the President’s priority area of building a knowledge based economy.
He emphasised that as the world was going through the 4th Industrial revolution (4IR), Botswana should not be left behind. He said this could be achieved through the adoption of innovations that placed the economy at a competitive edge.
“Our presence here and the undertakings here today are a confirmation of our contribution towards sustainable economic development. We can surely contribute towards a sector which is technology driven and commercially viable, aligning ourselves with other progressive countries,” Mr Shamukuni said
“What does it take to purchase animal feed at your convenience through technology and delivered at your farm while you are still performing your duties at work,” he asked rhetorically.
The minister said in some countries there were fully automated dairy farms and robots did almost everything, even feeding was automated.
“That is the available technology and as the country we should adopt such technology,” he stated.
Mr Shamukuni called on Batswana to take advantage of the recently launched Thuo Letlotlo programme, aimed at increasing both the national herd and the quality of animals.
In his welcome remarks, Bakwena Deputy chief, kgosi Lawrence Mhaladi said agriculture remained the mainstay of livelihoods of Batswana hence he urged Batswana to exploit Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo.
He called on farmers in the Letlhakeng region to establish an umbrella association that could engage with government on behalf of farmers for the whole region.
One of the members of the hosting family, Mr Kabo Busang said they were grappling with bush encroachment which had detrimental effects on their range land. Meanwhile Letlhakeng District Agricultural Coordinator, Mr Thomas Tadubana told farmers that there was a component aimed to address bush encroachment in Thuo Letlotlo.
Other packages of Thuo Letlotlo, Mr Tadubana mentioned were assisted reproductive technology and animal feed production and processing.
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