02 Sep 2024

Agriculture has the potential to accelerate growth and is pertinent for wealth creation, and the achievement of an export led economy, Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Fidelis Molao has said.

Giving a keynote address at the second Vision 2036 Public Lecture and Roundtable Panel Discussion in Gaborone recently, Minister Molao said the adoption of advanced agricultural techniques such as precision farming, climate smart practices and breakthrough technologies in resource management had the power to revolutionise the sector.

The minister said fostering an environment that supported innovation helped to unlock new opportunities for growth and development.

He also said this year’s commemoration of Vision 2036 focused on the agricultural sector as one of the eight priority sectors in the National Development Plan 12.

He said it was in recognition of the pivotal role of Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) in the sector that the university hosted the public lecture and panel discussion.

Noting that agriculture sector was the mainstay of the economy, especially rural communities, he said agriculture was one of the most powerful tools for ending extreme poverty, boosting shared prosperity and potential for accelerated growth.

Mr Molao said the public lecture was to showcase the potential of research, science, technology and innovation to enhance productivity, sustainability, technology-driven, commercially viable agricultural sector through agriculture value chains.

Giving a lecture, BUAN Vice Chancellor, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele said to attain the envisaged national Vision 2036, there was need to build the green economy, which could help to build and increase productivity, create jobs and diversify revenue streams.

Therefore, he said there was a need to increase food production especially cereals because food and nutrition security were paramount for socio-economic growth and underpinned national development.

He said energy self-sufficiency was key to socio-economic growth.

He said to drive the national transformation agenda there was a need to think about non-traditional products.

Prof. Mosepele also said BUAN was implementing research projects worth over P55 million over several strategic areas including cereals and crop development, livestock development, renewable natural resources particularly in bio-diversity conservation, non-renewable resources, energy, water and land.

The event was held under the theme; Implementing the National Transformation Strategy by Leveraging on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation to grow the Agriculture and Natural Resources Sectors: The case of BUAN. Ends