08 Dec 2024

The Selebi Phikwe Citrus farm is looking to acquire additional land to expand its operations, aiming to penetrate more external markets. 

This need for expansion was highlighted during President Duma Boko’s tour of the farm on Saturday.

Since its inception in 2020, the citrus farm operates on 1500 hectares of land leased from the Mmadinare Cooperatives. Following the President’s familiarisation tour of the farm, Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe, indicated that negotiations for more land acquisition were currently underway with local communities.

Ms Nancy Chegenta, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, echoed the need for land expansion. 

She noted that consultations with the ministry have commenced. “This is an exciting phase for Selebi Phikwe Citrus, especially since they are engaging with the communities. Such initiatives should be embraced by Batswana, as they ultimately benefit local people,” she said, emphasizing the ministry’s encouragement for leasing cooperatives or land for trusts to enhance local benefits.

The farm’s first harvest occurred earlier this year, yielding 3,000 tonnes sent to the European Union. Plans are in place to expand markets to the United States, South Africa, South Korea, and China.

Selebi Phikwe Citrus board member and chairperson, Mr Deon Van Westhuizen, informed President Boko about their establishment in 2021, expressing confidence in their investment in Botswana.

In the same visit, President Boko also toured the Letsibogo Dam in Mmadinare, where Water Utilities Corporation CEO Mr Gaselemogwe Senai reported that the dam’s water levels had dropped to 33 per cent and could be depleted within 10 months without rainfall. 

He highlighted the importance of preparedness, recalling drought measures implemented when capacity reaches 20 per cent, similar to circumstances in 2012.

Mr Senai expressed concerns regarding the citrus project’s water supply should levels continue to decline, noting that the farm had an initial agreement to dig its own boreholes for backup water during droughts. 

To mitigate low water levels, Mr Senai mentioned the possibility of supplying water from Shashe Dam to the SPEDU area, ensuring the citrus farm’s needs were met in critical situations. 

He also noted concerns about infrastructure vandalism at the dam, calling for collective efforts to protect such vital resource.

Dikgathong Dam, which is the largest in the country, is currently at 66 per cent, this gives the dam a moderate drought status. Located near Robelela village in the eastern part of the country, when full, Dikgathong Dam holds 400 million cubic meters of water.

Mr Senai said last year this time, the dam was at 85 per cent.

He also highlited that the last time the dam experienced the lowest level was in 2013 due to drought when it had dropped to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, the WUC CEO decried vandalism of infrastructure at the dam. Ends