18 Sep 2024

The Ministry of Entrepreneurship in conjunction with CEDA on Tuesday launched Letsema horticultural market, which will be a central point for farmers across the country to sell their fresh produce rather than direct to the market.

Speaking at the official opening of the market, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare said the intention was to open collection centres across the country in strategic places such as Maun, Gantsi and Francistown.

He said the opening of the market was a step forward for horticulture, especially in the value chain development which could not rely on imports.  “The horticultural sector is vital for the economy as it has potential to create employment for citizens,” he said.

Mr Gare further said global challenges such as climate change, which led to food insecurity, could be addressed through horticulture.

“This sector has potential to address all these challenges, no matter the scale of farming one practises. Let us contribute and motivate farmers, small and commercial, to produce more,” he said. He said horticulture sector was one of the most challenged in realizing returns, indicating that the CEDA loan book has horticultural producers as some of the most in debt.

“This is due to the fact that the horticulture market has not been profitable for farmers to make enough profit to service their loans, and the horticulture market owes millions in arrears, so this market will hopefully help them service their loans,” said the minister.

He said there was need to find other viable options of dealing with horticulture farmers who struggle to service their loans than repossession of equipment. “Repossessing their equipment means that we are now totally condemning to death their already struggling businesses. The most ideal should be business rescue, where we help them survive so that they can be in a position to pay back. Repossession should be the last option, especially that it does not benefit either the business or the financier,” he said.

Mr Gare pointed out that this could be done through assessing viability of the business before deciding on repossession.

Mr Gare said the Letsema horticulture market would give farmers peace of mind as they would now have less worries about the market, thereby spend their energy on producing more.

“Initially farmers were forced to peddle their produce around, which required their time, and after a few days the produce would perish, forcing them to sell at a loss and incur post-harvest losses. So this market will give them value for their produce while still fresh,” he said.

Mr Gare said there were clear objective plans for the market, such as reducing imports to boost value chain development as well as help uplift small farmers in addition to providing a stable market.

He said farmers would also be paid within five days to ensure sustainability.

CEDA board chairperson, Dr Alfred Tsheboeng said Letsema horticulture market embodied the spirit of collaboration, and that it would help strengthen ties between horticultural farmers for their own benefit.

He said the market would also be a hub for farmers and help sustain the sector. Dr Tsheboeng pleaded with farmers to help sustain the market by producing more.

Chairman of the Botswana Horticulture Council, Mr Mogomotsi Moatswi said there was need for the market to be stringent in quality control to ensure that only the highest quality passed through. “This will help in bringing customer confidence on the local produce,” he said.

Mr Moatswi urged government to be more stringent on chemical residue control on horticulture produce, which he said would protect the integrity of the produce. He hailed government for the moratorium on importation of some horticulture produce, which he said was a bold political decision necessary to grow the local sector.  Ends