02 Sep 2013

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi says a youth industry is to be set up in Serule.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama in Serule on August 29, Mr Kgathi said a plot had been identified to set up the industry adding that the initiative was still at its initial stage. Under the youth industry, he said youth in Serule would pursue various projects at the said plot to empower themselves.

He also encouraged youth in the village to utilise the Youth Empowerment Programme because it iwas meant to empower youth so that they could start viable projects that would uplift their livelihood. However, he expressed concern that only four youth at the village had shown interest in utilising the programme.

Mr Kgathi said out of the said number, two projects had so far been approved while the other two were still at the adjudication committee for analysis. He explained that the Serowe North East had been awarded P2 million to fund youth projects in the constituency.  He also stated that a youth officer had been appointed to provide services to youth in the Serowe North East Constituency which included Serule.

Mr Kgathi further commended youth in Serule for taking part in constituency football and art competitions. He said records showed that they had been doing well in that some youth from the village had won prizes at constituency and national level. Meanwhile, the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi acknowledged farmers in Serule for utilising the ISPAAD programme.

Mr Molebatsi encouraged them to continue using the prescribed methods under the programme such as row planting and urged the farmers to take ISPAAD serious to produce food for the country. He said if 10 000 Batswana were to engage in agronomy where each Motswana ploughed and planted at least five hectares using the prescribed ISPAAD methods, they would produce enough food to feed the nation.

He said when farmers used the row planting method they were bound to reap more than 50 bags per hectares. "Through ISPAAD, government uses up to 20 000 on every  five hectares using tractors to plough and planters to sow seeds  as well as providing fertilisers,” he said.

On other issues, Mr Molebatsi said an agriculture officer had been appointed to provide services in Serule and to help speed up the rollout of the LIMID programme. He called on those that had already benefitted through LIMID to take care of their livestock.

For her part, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s, Mrs Molebi Morolong said tender to maintain Bonwatlou Junior Secondary School would be awarded in due course. Mrs Morolong also mentioned that the school had a vote for special expenditure which would be utilised to purchase new beds for students living on campus at the school. ENDS