18 Aug 2024

Value chain development in the agriculture sector remains one of the key vehicles through which Botswana goods and services can find their way into international markets.

His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi said on Friday while officiating Moshupa District Agricultural Show that when engaging in various undertakings within the sector,  Batswana should  look beyond household economic empowerment and explore avenues for penetrating global markets.

“This approach will elevate agriculture and position it among the country’s top revenue earners,” he stated.

He therefore called on farmers across various sub-sectors to align their efforts with government initiatives aimed at revolutionising the agricultural sector saying agricultural activities should not be trivialised, ‘they must be viewed as businesses capable of transforming the broader economy.’

“When my 10-year tenure of office draws to a close in 2028, I want to leave behind an empowered citizen. And to realise that state of empowerment, each of you should become industrious and shun laziness,” Dr Masisi said, emphasising how engaging in activities within the sector required dedication, tenacity and a strong resolve to stay the course even in the face of challenges.

Towards enhancing the agricultural landscape, President Masisi pledged to advocate for an increase in beef prices to a minimum of P100 per kilogram by 2028.

He urged farmers to adopt effective livestock management practices to make this target feasible.

Turning his focus to the impending national polls, Dr Masisi urged Batswana to remain resolute to maintaining the peace that Botswana was now synonymous with.

He said elections were a sacred process that required a high sense of level headedness, hence citizens should approach them soberly.

Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) Chief Executive Officer Mr David Tsheboeng said as a national farmers’ organisation they were committed to ensuring that farmers regardless of size enjoyed fair access to their services.

He said in addition to safeguarding the interests of the farmer at home, BMC continued to fight to elevate the sovereign identity of its product by ensuring that Botswana’s premium beef remained a force to reckon with in the global beef markets.

Though determined to live up to its mandate, challenges such as ageing infrastructure continued to affect BMC’s efforts and pace to transform and make itself more aligned to farmers’ expectations and aspirations.

He said the recent breakdown of a 20-tonne boiler which had resulted in the BMC missing 12 weeks of full production was a stark reminder that most of their infrastructure had reached end of life. 

Despite the challenges, the CEO said revenue in excess of P400 million was realised by July this year, compared to P351 million during the same period last year. Ends