Africa-Press – Botswana. Three companies have been awarded funding through the USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) as Botswana endeavours to attain food security and economic diversification.
The three are Organic Fertilizer Manufacturers Botswana (OFMB), FLOTEK and Selebi Phikwe Citrus.
Based in Mmamashia, OFMB received a grant of US$1.5 million and the CEO, Mr Mike Hallam said the funding would enable them to expand their operations as well as their international footprint.
He said the funding would enable them to boost exports as they looked forward to reaching more countries.
Mr Hallam said the US Embassy had helped the company register their six products in South Africa.
He further said they had acquired additional machinery and developed a weigh bridge, adding that they received 2 000 tonnes of raw materials in February.
“We are busy with further developments,” he said, adding that they were expanding their bulk storage.
The OFMB specializes in the production of organic and organic blended fertilizers and supplies DRC, South Africa and Zambia.
Mr Hallam expressed hope that they would expand to EU and the US markets this year.
Meanwhile, Bakgatla Deputy kgosi, Kgosi Bana Sekai said they had entered into partnership with OFMB over the use of 1 000ha of land in Masama and Mr Hallam with the agreement that only organic products would be used in order to protect ground water sources.
FLOTEK Founder and managing director, Mr Vijay Naik said the funding would enable them to develop new products and also expand their international markets.
The company manufactures plastic pipes for various industries ranging from agriculture to mining and construction.
The company received US$300 000 grant and the MD said they would produce the nets Mr Naik said the funding would enable them to manufacture shade nets used in agriculture for both local and export markets.
He said their products had received ISO, BOBS and SABS certification for high quality.
Through their agricultural products, which include pipes used in irrigation, Mr Naik said they were playing their role in supporting Botswana to attain food security.
The company exports to Southern African countries and has 1 000 employees, 700 of whom are in Botswana.
Mr Naik said they faced competition from South Africa, but because they had mastered their craft, they were able to source raw materials from and export to South Africa and still make profit.
He said Botswana was strategically positioned to export to Southern African markets, which offered a population of 260 million.
Mr Naik further said Botswana was the best destination for investment as the country did not have foreign exchange controls and had reliable supply of electricity.
He however called for the implementation of policies which he said were good but remained unemplemented.
Dr Pieter Scholtz, CEO of Selebi Phikwe Citrus said the US$500 000 they received from USAID ATI enabled them to provide shade netting for 40ha, which improved their products.
He explained that net for soft citrus was effective in protecting them from extreme weather conditions and saved on irrigation water. Dr Scholtz said their produce was mainly for export, currently to the EU, but they would also export to USA.
All the companies target the US market through the African Growth Opportunity Act.
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