The Botswana Red Cross Society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Japanese Government through the Japanese Embassy in Botswana, have constructed a community farm in Gweta to the tune of over P3.5 million.
Speaking at the launch of the project, BRCS Secretary General, Kutlwano Mukokomani revealed that this community farm sits on a 9-hectare land and has absorbed over 50 community farmers to equip them with trainings in horticulture and Agri-business.
He said the project’s beneficiaries also have access to infrastructures that include a fully equipped borehole, irrigation system, farming inputs and are afforded technical support by a full time Horticulture specialist.
He was adamant that the farm will assist the local communities in Gweta and in surrounding villages to be food sustainable. “We are happy to share that the community farm has been doing well and is currently producing 1.5 tons of fresh vegetables per month,” he said.
These fresh vegetables, Mukokomani said, is being supplied to local supermarkets, including those in surrounding villages.
Speaking at the same event, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Director of Food Production, Diirilwe Matoto said the project targets 350 families and 60 individuals to produce horticultural products for sale.
“This is a welcome development and my Ministry fully support such endeavor to uplift the Agricultural sector which contributes significantly to the socio-economic development of the rural community and upliftment of livelihood,” said Matoto.
The director said the initiative came at the right time as “my government has taken a decision to close importation gap for Agricultural commodities restricting importation of horticultural crops.” This, Matoto said, creates an opportunity for local horticultural producers like Gweta community horticultural farm as the sub sector contributes only 40% of the national demand and 60% is met by importation.
“So far the project has generated P80 000.00 with 15 active members of the group,” he said.
For her part, Japanese Embassy representative, Sayuri Himero said though at infancy stage, it is pleasing to see this agricultural project realised. In particular, it is important that this project has not only started to benefit the community through the sale of produce, but it will be a sustainable one to thrive on its own for years to come.
“The project is based on a proposal made by the IFRC to the Government of Japan in August 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic negatively affected nutrition, income security and food security,” said Himero. She said in January 2021, the Government of Japan also announced the support for an Economic and Social Development Programme, with grant aid amounting to 500 million Japanese Yen (approximately 53 million Pula for the provision of agricultural machineries and materials to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19.
Himero said the grant aid project will provide agricultural machineries and materials including walking tractors, vegetable driers and green houses that will help to modernize Botswana’s agriculture sector. “We are expecting these machineries to be handed over to the Government of Botswana in 2023,” she said.
