Assistant Minister of Agriculture Molebatsi Molebatsi is happy that the minister of Finance Peggy Serame allocated P2.02 billion or 6.8 percent of the development budget to the ministry of Agriculture.
Speaking to Botswana Guardian after the budget speech, Molebatsi said the ministry decided to change the way they conduct business to allow for the sector to absorb more people into it, hence the transition from ISPAAD to Temo Letlotlo.
The goal is to see positive growth and the commercialisation of agriculture through the new programme. Furthermore, the Assistant Minister said that government is willing to meet Batswana halfway in terms of procuring what they need to establish successful agricultural businesses.
Molebatsi revealed that beyond the existing subsidies in the agricultural sector, Batswana who will be able to meet output targets desired by the government will be given rewards.
“If we give you a loan, we expect you to cover the loan, a soft loan which is covered by insurance," Molebatsi revealed, adding that the ministry now has an insurance that covers crop production.
The Assistant Minister revealed that Thuo Letlotlo is coming and like other agricultural projects before it, it will subsidise farmers and the programme will aid farmers to commercialise farming. He however noted that this project will be rolled out in the foreseeable future and it will use a lot of new technologies like embryoid transplantation at a subsidised price.
Molebatsi noted that the ministry is also giving out farm land, and is currently giving out eight farms in the Molopo farming area with 57 other farms which will be issued out soon to Batswana.
The elated assistant minister explained that his ministry is encouraging the fishery and aquaculture sub sector mainly because the Botswana market consumes about 5 000 tonnes of fish, yet the nation produces 500 tonnes of
fish. Molebatsi noted that there is a hatchery in Mmadinare where fingerlings are being sold out at very subsidised prices.
One of the goals of the ministry is to close the gaps that are found within the agricultural sector such as in the dairy industry. He noted that the milk that is consumed in the country is mainly from South Africa, as Botswana produces only 13 percent in the country. Molebatsi said Thuo Letlotlo will encourage dairy production even among women.
The efforts to revolutionise agriculture has no limits as Molebatsi recalled that the President of Botswana once indicated that the government may purchase dairy cattle similar to the way they brought cattle from America. “We want sustainable enterprises built out of farming,” Molebatsi said, adding that this is one of the reasons why the government is rolling out programmes that will transform the sector.
When delivering the budget speech, Minister Serame said that the focus under this Ministry is for promotion of national self-sufficiency in food production especially given the increase in climatic shocks resulting from climate change, investing in agricultural value chains, as well as commercialisation of both arable and livestock farming.
As such, the bulk of the 2024/2025 proposed budget will cater for the Temo Letlotlo Programme to cover the provision of grants to farmers for procurement of inputs and production services for the household food security component.
Minister of Agriculture, Fidelis Molao unveiled the Temo Letlotlo programme to Parliament recently. He explained that Temo Letlotlo is an innovative initiative which aims to revolutionise agricultural productivity through a multi-sectoral approach, involving various ministries, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector.
According to Molao, Temo Letlotlo is designed to enhance food security at both household and national levels. The programme's Household Food Security component provides vital support to micro-scale farmers, offering them a 100 percent subsidy to ensure their crops meet their household needs.
Temo Letlotlo empowers farmers to optimise yields while reducing production costs. The programme emphasises value addition and wealth creation through the identification of priority crops and the establishment of distinct product spaces.
Molao said that over 105,000 farmers have been registered in the Crop Management System, with a substantial portion actively engaged in grain production. Despite challenges posed by drought conditions, the programme has facilitated the purchase of seasonal inputs and provided crucial support to farmers through stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Speaking to Botswana Guardian after the budget speech, Molebatsi said the ministry decided to change the way they conduct business to allow for the sector to absorb more people into it, hence the transition from ISPAAD to Temo Letlotlo.
The goal is to see positive growth and the commercialisation of agriculture through the new programme. Furthermore, the Assistant Minister said that government is willing to meet Batswana halfway in terms of procuring what they need to establish successful agricultural businesses.
Molebatsi revealed that beyond the existing subsidies in the agricultural sector, Batswana who will be able to meet output targets desired by the government will be given rewards.
“If we give you a loan, we expect you to cover the loan, a soft loan which is covered by insurance," Molebatsi revealed, adding that the ministry now has an insurance that covers crop production.
The Assistant Minister revealed that Thuo Letlotlo is coming and like other agricultural projects before it, it will subsidise farmers and the programme will aid farmers to commercialise farming. He however noted that this project will be rolled out in the foreseeable future and it will use a lot of new technologies like embryoid transplantation at a subsidised price.
Molebatsi noted that the ministry is also giving out farm land, and is currently giving out eight farms in the Molopo farming area with 57 other farms which will be issued out soon to Batswana.
The elated assistant minister explained that his ministry is encouraging the fishery and aquaculture sub sector mainly because the Botswana market consumes about 5 000 tonnes of fish, yet the nation produces 500 tonnes of
fish. Molebatsi noted that there is a hatchery in Mmadinare where fingerlings are being sold out at very subsidised prices.
One of the goals of the ministry is to close the gaps that are found within the agricultural sector such as in the dairy industry. He noted that the milk that is consumed in the country is mainly from South Africa, as Botswana produces only 13 percent in the country. Molebatsi said Thuo Letlotlo will encourage dairy production even among women.
The efforts to revolutionise agriculture has no limits as Molebatsi recalled that the President of Botswana once indicated that the government may purchase dairy cattle similar to the way they brought cattle from America. “We want sustainable enterprises built out of farming,” Molebatsi said, adding that this is one of the reasons why the government is rolling out programmes that will transform the sector.
When delivering the budget speech, Minister Serame said that the focus under this Ministry is for promotion of national self-sufficiency in food production especially given the increase in climatic shocks resulting from climate change, investing in agricultural value chains, as well as commercialisation of both arable and livestock farming.
As such, the bulk of the 2024/2025 proposed budget will cater for the Temo Letlotlo Programme to cover the provision of grants to farmers for procurement of inputs and production services for the household food security component.
Minister of Agriculture, Fidelis Molao unveiled the Temo Letlotlo programme to Parliament recently. He explained that Temo Letlotlo is an innovative initiative which aims to revolutionise agricultural productivity through a multi-sectoral approach, involving various ministries, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector.
According to Molao, Temo Letlotlo is designed to enhance food security at both household and national levels. The programme's Household Food Security component provides vital support to micro-scale farmers, offering them a 100 percent subsidy to ensure their crops meet their household needs.
Temo Letlotlo empowers farmers to optimise yields while reducing production costs. The programme emphasises value addition and wealth creation through the identification of priority crops and the establishment of distinct product spaces.
Molao said that over 105,000 farmers have been registered in the Crop Management System, with a substantial portion actively engaged in grain production. Despite challenges posed by drought conditions, the programme has facilitated the purchase of seasonal inputs and provided crucial support to farmers through stakeholder engagement initiatives.
