08 Aug 2024

Botswana Prisons Service has donated 50 bags of ruminant feed to the Ministry of Agriculture from its produce of over 6 tonnes of animal feed produced this year.

Speaking during the official handing over of feed on Wednesday at Molepolole Prison, Minister of Defence and Security, Honourable Kagiso Mmusi, said agriculture is deeply woven into the fabric of society and it influences economic activities and technological advancement.

Mr Mmusi said as a result, the Botswana Prisons Service incorporated agriculture as one of the rehabilitation programmes that were relevant to the needs of people.

“Through agriculture, the prison service equips inmates with practical skills, fosters a sense of responsibility, and assists in their rehabilitation and assimilation back into the society, ” he said.

He said the skills did not only enhance their job prospects following release, but also helped them to grow personally and become self-sufficient.

Mr Mmusi added that agricultural programmes in prisons made a significant contribution to national food security which was a crucial priority for the government.

“Producing food within prisons helps reduce operating costs of feeding inmates and ensures steady food supply.

“This initiative contributes to the government’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and reduce dependency on food imports,” he said.

He said the prison service developed the Botswana Prisons Service Food Security Strategy in 2016 aimed at providing a strategic framework by which prison agriculture programmes would be administered.

Minister Mmusi said the strategy was implemented during the fiscal year 2021/22 through farming infrastructure and equipment project which gave birth to a number of sub-projects including water resource development, protected farming as well as farm machinery and implements.

He said the strategy through the vocational training component further prepared men and women who would seamlessly assimilate into the requirements of transformative government empowerment programmes such as Thuo Letlotlo, Temo Letlotlo and Chema Chema post their incarceration.

Mr Mmusi applauded the prisons services for its generous donation to the Ministry of Agriculture, especially at a time when the country is hit by drought.

He said the gesture would have far reaching impact and represented a remarkable demonstration of inter-departmental solidarity and collaboration, and also exemplified the spirit of community and mutual support known within government institutions as one government.

When receiving the donation, the Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Fidelis Molao, recalled that when His Excellency President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, officiated at Molepolole Prison  he encouraged them to partner with his ministry in the development of the agricultural sector especially small stock.

He said they responded by donating five boer goats does, one buck, five dorper ewes, and one ram to the Botswana Prisons Service and they were yet to donate 20 boer goats which were good genetics from Lobu Small Stock Farm.

Minister Molao said it was therefore befitting that they were reciprocating by not only donating feed to his ministry but donating feed that they formulated themselves.

He added: “I believe this will trigger us to benchmark from you and start production of fodder and formulate our own feeds.

This donation comes at a time of drought and will provide relief to our livestock.

 “It is a great partnership where we share the same aspirations and drive the priority of the same government. This is indeed a testament that we are one government.”

Mr Molao assured the prisons service that this was the beginning of a great partnership.

Botswana Prisons Service Commissioner, Mr Anthony Mokento, said they were delighted to be donating to the Ministry of Agriculture.

He said the prison service was entrusted with the critical role of providing safe custodial care and rehabilitation of offenders in prison as well as to facilitate their successful reintegration into the society.

Mr Mokento said through educational opportunities, vocational training and psychosocial support, the prison service strived to equip prisoners with skills and a mindset necessary for their successful reintegration into society. Ends