Ministry develops measures to save Agric sector
The poor performance of the agriculture sector over the decades has forced the Ministry of Agriculture to develop effective strategic measures and respond to reforms and promote growth and resilience of the sector.
According to the permanent secretary, Nancy Chengeta, the poor performance has been due to domestic and international factors.
She stated that among them is COVID-19 which profoundly disrupted fundamental agricultural activities including agriculture and food systems. She said the development of the measures will further prepare the sector against such pandemics.
Chengeta told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the ministry aims to improve food security, reduce import bill and champion agricultural development through local production.
She said that the ministry has also reviewed the 1991 National Policy on Agriculture Development, adding that the relatively weak performance of the sector to date and emergence of new concerns such as COVID-19 and climate change made it imperative to review the policy to refocus and strengthen efforts to achieve food security and reduce poverty among Batswana.
“The ISPAAD has also assisted the farmers through provision of farm inputs and fertilisers. Cereal productivity level for commercial farmers increased from 2.5 tonnes per hectare in 2008 to 3 tonnes per hectare in 2020.
“Cereal productivity for subsistence farmers has declined from 0.3 tonnes in 2008 to 0.2 in 2010. This indicates that the area planted increased but with crop production declining there was need to review it with the aim of looking at a programme that will be at national level and that will look at Agro climatic zones for maximising production,” the Permanent Secretary said.
Chengeta said they believe that the current ways of applying crop production is not giving results. According to the PS, climatic conditions, change of seasons and rainfall patterns show that the country cannot continue to have blanket approach for the entire country.
The government has been challenged by the Agriculture, Lands and Housing Parliamentary Oversight Committee to develop a strategy within the agriculture sector and grow the sector from its current infancy to an economic engine.
The committee chaired by MP Mephato Reatile stated in the report that it is imperative to do such given the critical need to address issues of food security in this country.
According to Reatile, in achieving this, there is also a need for greater accountability on planning and performance by the various stakeholders tasked with such responsibility.
He explained that as a landlocked net importer of most commodities, Botswana finds itself in a rather precarious position, especially during times of crisis as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He pointed out that the country’s over-reliance on neighbouring countries for almost every good consumed locally, including food exposes us to external vulnerabilities.