17 Oct 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday handed over a farm to Bray community at Banyana Farms.

Delivering on a promise he made to the residents on October 29, 2021, President Masisi said the development came against the backdrop that the Bray community was surrounded by ranches and therefore had no farming land to sustain their livelihoods.

He said government then took a decision to acquire land at Banyana Farms and developed it as a way of facilitating the people to gain farming land fully equipped with a solar driven borehole and fenced.

President Masisi said he was informed that the borehore was drilled at P653 800, pipework cost over P1.7 million, borehole equipping cost over P518 000, lights and borehole electric fencing cost over P 18 000, solar installations and pumping cost P428 000, which amounted to over P5.7 million. 

While he encouraged the community to work hard and take care of the equipment, he expressed concern at the costs incurred by government in the project, which he said needed to be assessed as the funds used were overpriced.

The farm was also handed over with 10 goats, a buck and a Brahman bull from Lobu Stock Farm.  Also, he encouraged Bray community to utilise government programmes such as Thuo Letlotlo and Maja-A-Ikgorosa and use the farm to groom an astute generation of farmers.

For his part, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi said the ministry responded to President Masisi’s call for them to drill and equip a borehole for the community farm measuring 4 095ha, which was allocated in 2015 at Banyana Farms.

He said the borehole project, which was drilled at a depth of 204 metres and yields 15.35 cubic metres of water, was awarded to HHH Holdings to the tune of P5.7 million. 

He said the ministry had trained and facilitated five borehole operators to run the project, adding that 16 community members eight of which were females, were also trained on livestock management and group dynamics as a way of empowering them to successfully run the project.

Kgosi Olopeng Ramasesane of Bray appreciated the development, which he noted would go a long way in transforming livelihoods in the village, adding that land shortage was a serious challenge for the community.

He said the move would improve livelihoods, adding that through the farm, they would also become players in the economy through meaningful participation in food production leading to food self security.

He said due to shortage of land, the community faced limitations in food production as they could not rear livestock nor plough to get food.  As the community starts to embark on the new farming journey, he called for support from neighbouring farmers to ensure success of the project.

Meanwhile, on other issues he said Bray residents continued to benefit from government programmes and policies, adding that so far 44 people had benefited from Chema Chema Fund.

Tsabong District Council deputy council secretary, Mr Ronald Baitsewe appreciated President Masisi for delivering Bray Community Farm developments adding that the farm would require a collective effort by all stakeholders and the community for the farm to succeed.

He said Tsabong Multispecies Abattoir, which would open soon, offered them an opportunity to market their produce hence the need to work hard to produce more stock to be able to supply the abattoir.

He also called for the department of crops to make assessments on the farm to ascertain on viability crops in the area. ENDS