27 Jun 2024

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has told Ntlo Ya Dikgosi that there are no plans to open a fully-fledged Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) branch in Seronga.

Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele said this, on behalf of Minister of Entrepreneurship, during the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi meeting on Tuesday.

He was responding to a question asked by Kgosi Disho Ndhowe of the Okavango region on whether the entrepreneurship ministry would consider opening a BAMB branch at Seronga to cover catchment areas from Mogotho to Gudigwa in order to address the challenge of distance travelled by farmers to access services at Shakawe.

However, Mr Modukanele said in March, BAMB management visited Seronga to assess how the area could be assisted with bringing services closer to the people.

“Effective July 1, BAMB will make periodic deliveries to Seronga based on the orders made. This will either be coordinated with the Seronga Kgotla or veterinary offices,” he said.

He added that such provision would be in line with the 2024/2025 season Drought and Household Food Security measures issued on June 20.

Similarly, he said arrangement would be made with other identified satellite areas in the country where there were no BAMB branches. ENDS