GHANZI SHOW - Ministry of Agriculture

Volume 42, No. 07 July 2012
GHANZI SHOW
Arable agric resurrects
The secret behind the Pandamatenga Success

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A G R I N E W S
J u l y
2012
Contents
First time lucky champion hen winner
Arable farming resurrects in Ghanzi
2
14
The secret behind the Pandamatenga Success
Financial Institutions now have appetite for
Agriculture
4
6
Ghanzi Show
Batswana Embrace Artificial Insemination
Ghanzi show a marvel once more
National fruit tree nursery grows
Pandamatenga harvest day
8
10
12
13
14
10
Questions and Answers
16
8
Word grid
Teasers
18
19
4
Vacant
Editor:
Moreri Moesi
Reporters:
France Begensel
Segomotso Basuti
Keamogetse Boitshepo
Kesegofetse Tawele
Mokgarebe Motswakhumo
Esther Nkgwang
Modiegi Madumetsa
Khutsafalo Maabong
Keabetswe Molebatsi
Designer:
Advisor N. Kapoko
Head Of Photography
Henry Toto
Photographers:
Pius Nkunda
Aggripah Willie
http://www.facebook.com/AgrinewsMagazineMoa?ref=tn_tnmn
July 2012

VISION
FOUNDATION
PILLARS
editor’s note
Farmers must capitalize on Banks’ advances
Attain national food security
and global competitiveness
in agricultural products
MISSION
To improve agricultural productivity
through technology development
and transfer, diversification and
commercialization, in order
to promote food security in
partnership with our stakeholders.
VALUES
1. BOTHO
We treat our customers in
a respectable and caring manner.
2. TEAM WORK
We recognize the need to work as
a team characterized by collective
effort, trust, understanding,
support and perseverance
irrespective of rank or gender.
3. CUSTOMER FOCUSED
Our customers are the focus
of everything we do by being
courteous, caring, compassionate,
tolerant and empathetic.
4. INNOVATIVE
We commit to employ new ideas
and being proactive in order to
match the requirements of the
future.
5. INTEGRITY
We foster a culture of transparency,
accountability and dependability.
Besides harsh climatic
conditions, lack of capital
has always hampered the
growth of the country’s agricultural
sector. Capital is a must for any
farmer. For established farmers
working capital is required while
new ones need start up capital.
Just like the agricultural sector
itself, money is the genesis and
the revelations of everything.
Financial institutions had
for many years shunned the
agricultural sector because of
its associated high risk. This is a
sector, which often is hated by
many, but cannot be ignored.
The agricultural sector has
proved to be at the heart of every
nation of the world. Botswana is
not a exemption. It has no option
but work the sector up the ladder
to where it belongs. However,
reaching the altar does not come
cheap; it requires microscope
focus.
It needs all farmers to know
their balance sheet. Gone are
the days when farming was just
a hobby or part time activity. We
need to know our breakeven
point.
Armed with proper records,
f a r m e r s c a n n o w s a f e l y
approach commercial banks to
invest in our beloved profession.
Banks believe in figures and
therefore only those who keep
records can pen agreements
with the banks.
Farmers had over the years
t r i e d t o p r o p o s e f i n a n c i a l
i n s t i t u t i o n s f o r a h o l y -
matrimony, but the latter was
reluctant because they were
not sure about the proposer’s
assets. Now, the commercial
banks are warming up to the
proposal.
Hence, commercial banks
are now developing different
products for farmers. It is this
products that we want to urge
farmers to exploit to maximize
production. Diamonds are not
forever, but the agricultural
sector is.
We want to urge commercial
banks to develop more products
to assist farmers and open up to
the farming community for the
benefit of the world and those
who live in it. WE need each
other like a bride and groom.
i
July 2012

Malebogo Motlhankamotho with her champion hen
Their noise may be sheer nuisance to
someone standing afar, but for one
in the chicken business every cluck,
chatter or squalk is a heaven sent melody.
One needs to know them in order to be
rewarded well by them. In a nutshell,
poultry business is no walk in the park.
Missing one step in their growth can lead
to jeopardy and great loss.
Australorp and Orpinton breeds dominate
Malebogo Motlhankamotho’s chicken
Coop. The 27 year old Kang based farmer
based was browsing a magazine one day
when her eyes gazed at these birds for
the first time.
One would say it was love at first sight
as from that moment, she knew she had
to change the breed in her pen. She
started with two Orpinton hens and one
cock. At the moment, she has a total of
12. This might seem like a small number
but considering the fact that they have a
P500.00 price tag attached to them this
is a step in the right direction to riches.
“The problem with these breeds is you
cannot feed them with just everything like
we do with our Tswana breed, if you do
so their growth becomes stunted and do
not perform to the best of their ability,”
she said. From what was displayed during
the Ghanzi District Agriculture show, one
would say the district is a hub for chicken
farming magnates. The finest chicken
breeds are found here.
As a new comer in the rearing
business one would be intimidated
but sometimes you need to put your
fear in the pocket and just plunge.After
scooping the P2000.00 prize for the
Champion Hen, Motlhankamotho could
not hide her joy especially that it was
her first time to exhibit at the Ghanzi
show. As is everyone’s desire to grow,
Motlhankamotho is no exception. She
has aspirations of expanding her project
through financial assistance from the
FIRST TIME LUCKY
CHAMPION HEN WINNER
Article: Segomotso Basuti
Photos: Aggripah Willie
Department of Youth and Culture.
Tiro Tlalang working in the Poultry
Production office and based in Kang
clarified exactly what they consider
to come with the best winner for the
competition. He states that management
is one aspect of consideration and these
include being free from deformities, fleas
and having the right colour.
“There are various factors that may lead
to chickens having bad colour, these
may include not feeding them correctly
and if there is too much tempering in the
crossing process this may affect the colour
of the particular bird.”
Tlalang states that the overall
performance of chickens in the district
is remarkable. After five years of judging
in the Ghanzi show, he states that farmers
heed the advice they have been given over
the years as estimated by improvement of
chickens brought in every year.
“Our main task is not just to judge but
to give technical advice where we see fit,
and from what we have observed there
has been significant growth in farmers
here.”
Tlalang said for Motlhankamotho to
come out a champion, all categories
participating had to be judged. The
categories included Commercial Breeds,
Tswana Breeds, the Pure Breeds and lastly
the Ornamental ones.
“When all judging is complete, we
then take the winners from the stated
categories, judge them all together again
and come up with the Champion Hen.”
Giving advice, Tlalang said what he
observed a trend portrayed by most
farmers of using one cock for a long time
which in the end caused in-breeding.
He advised that they replace the cock
regularly so that their chickens maintain
good qualities.
July 2012 2

After years of stumbling along
in the dark, arable farming
could well be on its way to
reclaiming its rightful place as a key
part of agriculture space in Ghanzi.
Over the years, the area was dominated
by livestock keeping. However, this
might change as dry land farming
has a potential of growth in Ghanzi
district. This was evident at this year’s
Ghanzi show, first time in years there
were around 108 arable exhibitors at
the show. Over the years, the Ghanzi
show has been dominated by livestock
exhibits so the increase in arable
exhibits shows an elevated amount
of growth in terms of arable farming.
Some of their exhibits included
beans, sunflower, oranges,
maize, and groundnuts.
This development could be
attributed to the introduction
of the Integrated Support
Programme for Arable
Agricultural Development
(ISPAAD).
Th r o u g h
t h i s G o v e r n m e n t
initiative we could witness dry land
farming being widely embraced like in
the olden times. This was confirmed by
the District Agricultural Supervisor, Mr
Diphetogo Spencer Makuku “people
here were planting but due to lack
of harvest they sat back but since
ISPAAD we encounter a tremendous
comeback.” he said. He went on to
say that with the arrival of new farming
technologies and free distribution of
fertilizers people have become very
positive. He added that four people
have even bought
tractors to hire
out to others.
M a k u k u
encouraged
farmers to
e m b r a c e
a r a b l e
f a r m i n g
alongside livestock farming. He
asserted that Batswana cannot live
on milk and meat alone, hence the
need to diversify. Through ISPAAD,
farmers could increase their hectarage
in order to sell surplus as well as feed
their livestock with farm litter. He
noted that Botswana imports a lot
of agricultural products. One of the
farmers who enjoy the dividends of
engaging in arable farming is Mr Besa
Dabe of Grootlaagte. He describes
himself as a small scale subsistence
farmer who thrives on beans and
maize. He ploughed one hectare of
beans and harvested eight 50kg bags.
He sold four and kept another four
for consumption and replanting in
the next season. He planted maize in
another half ha of which he sold to
the local school. He boasts of two first
prize awards he won at the Ghanzi
Agricultural Show for the beans.
Dabe reveals that he planted after
the first rains which start in October
and November. He observed that rains
that come between January and March
are heavy and it is the time when
ngadule (aphids) is most prevalent.
It is very destructive to beans; it
sucks the flower nectar until it wilts.
Moreover, after the March rains
weeds come out in abundance and
are difficult to control.
July 2012

THE SECRET
BEHIND THE
PANDAMATENGA
SUCCESS
Article: Keamogetse Boitshepo
Improved technology in use in Pandamatenga
” Botswana Food Basket” like
is commonly referred to lay
stretched 50 000 hectares
about 900 kilometers north of
Gaborone in a fertile black cotton
soil of Chobe. Pandamatenga
commercial farms prove annually
to have the potential to pioneer
commercial farming in Botswana.
In only 12% of the hectares planted
in Botswana, Pandamatenga
commercial farms produce about
90% of the locally produced cereal
grain.
In 2010/11 planting season, the
farmers planted 22 000 hectares
and produced 43 000 tonnes of
cereal grain. That means on average
Pandamatenga commercial farms
produce 2.5 tonnes per hectare.
Most arable farmers cry foul over
lack of rains and prevalent weeds
and pests producing on average
200kg of cereal grains per hectare.
The big questions is; what is
Pandamatenga commercial farmers
doing different?
Agrinews had an exclusive
interview with Mr Tienie Kruger, the
chairperson of the Pandamatenga
Commercial Farmers Association
(P.C.F.A).
Kruger explains that just like
Rome was not built in one day,
Pandamatenga as well took years of
hard work to build. He reminisces
of the time the farms were nearly
closed due to frequent floods that
affected farming processes resulting
in the farms operating at a loss.
At the time, he said government
established a commission which
resulted in government investing
millions of pula on drainage work
and access roads.
He credits the then President
Festus Mogae and Minister of
Agriculture Jonny Swartz as pioneers
of the change in Pandamatenga.
“What you see today is the
expansion of Panda farms and
drainage system being put in place.
Additional land of 22 000 hectares
was initiated by this two people and
an investment of P400 million was
made available to support farmers.”
Kruger was quick to give the farmers
credit for their perseverance, which
somewhat inspired the government
to take action. He, however, could
not over emphasize the importance
of government involvement in
farming and cooperating with
farmers.
According to Kruger, government
assistance did not swipe away all
their challenges as by then they
were struggling to understand the
black cotton soil. With time and
improvement of equipment and
chemicals he said they discovered
better ways of planting the area.
Out of that, two schools of thoughts
were born, the old and the new but
all practice precision planting.
The old school which Kruger also
subscribes to include harrowing or
disking of field; that is doing various
processes of preparing the seed bed
before planting. The new school of
thought does minimum tillage and
is more chemical based as opposed
to ploughing and preserving the soil.
He, however, said both schools
ascribe to improved crop population,
seed depth and other processes that
July 2012 4

Kruger
avoid compaction to enhance their
yield.
“When you drive around you will
find little roads that are used year
after year when plowing, planting
and applying fertilizers. As such
avoid soil compaction on the whole
field by tractor wheels.”
Whilst the farms are known to
produce mainly sorghum, there is
a shift to include beans and sun
flower. Kruger explains that it is
due to rotational planting which
is inevitable in arable farming. He
said beans for instance are taken
to be rotational crops because they
provide the soil with nitrogen.
The use of improved technologies
which include heavy machinery,
improved seeds and fertilizers have
grown to be an integral part of
Pandamatenga culture. According
to Kruger, farming is commercial in
Pandamatenga and treated as such.
Therefore, farmers stop at nothing to
maximum yield in their farms.
“We have good relations with
chemical companies who test our
soil samples to determine a suitable
fertilizer. We also have relations
with seed producing companies
who recommend improved seeds
that improve our yield. We go to
the extent of buying seeds as far as
Australia.”
A network of investor relations
who offer services, supply inputs
and advice on their expertise
are of paramount importance in
Pandamatenga. Kruger revealed that
such partnerships train and make
periodic strategic assessment on the
use of their products.
Kruger also emphasized the
importance of financial advisers in
farming since it is a risky business.
Taking into consideration that they
make a lump sum ones a year,
financial management is vital.
He said a budget for the next
planting season and wage bill for
unproductive months needs to be
taken into consideration.
Further, he said insurance is a
touchy topic for farmers because
whilst is of utmost importance it
is still a matter on the table. He,
however, said for their sort of farming
one has to make arrangements with
various institutions to cater for
difficult times.
In the year 2019, with the
completion of the north water
pipeline, farmers in Pandamatenga
will have a better chance of pumping
water from the Zambezi River, hence
practice irrigation. Kruger said then
Pandamatenga commercial farms
will be a real “food basket” because
they will be able to harvest twice a
year hence double their produce.
APOLOGY
On our June issue, Page 7 on the
story headlined “ Cluster Fencing to
enhance Production in Mookane”
we erroneously reported that LIMID
programme has a cluster fencing
package. The correct version is
that ISPAAD (Integrated Support
Programme for Arable Development)
is the one with the Cluster fencing
c o m p o n e n t . We r e g r e t t h e
inconvinience.
Thank you
Editor
5
July 2012

Whatever the sector in
the economy, financing
r e m a i n s a h u g e
determinant of success and growth.
The agricultural sector is not an
exception. Over the years, the
country’s agricultural sector has
been a victim of poor financing.
Financial institutions regarded
agriculture as a high risk business,
therefore avoided talking business
with the farming community.
Reasons included interrelated
production risks such as unreliable
rainfall, pests and diseases (outbreaks
of Foot and Mouth Diseases), and
high costs incurred when servicing
remote areas.
However, the country’s agricultural
sector has fundamentally changed
over the past few years, a change
that has affected financing. Most
commercial banks have come on
board and identified agriculture as
an area with huge potential.
As a result, agribusinesses are
becoming financially powerful
and bigger.The challenge though
is that most of the farmers are
doing subsistence farming rather
than commercial. It is therefore
important for financial institutions to
venture into agriculture to promote
commercialization.
For the beef farming sector, this
will create major opportunities that
can allow it to grow. Currently the
off-take rates of South Africa and
Namibia stand at 17% and 14%
respectively while for Botswana is
merely 13%. Botswana’s average
carcass weight is only 175kg while
those of our neighboring countries
such as S.A and Nambia is 220kg
and 180kg respectively. The new
focus by banks will benefit the
beef industry substantially as there
will be pressure for consistency
in application of sound farming
practices like vaccination,
deworming and supplementary
feeding.
Therefore, effective management
becomes essential to the farmer.
The same goes for arable farming;
nowadays, farming has become
highly capital intensive. Production
inputs have become expensive
and lack of proper farming
implements like tractors, planters
and ploughs could hamper efforts
to commercialize. Therefore, banks’
appetite for agriculture is a very
much welcome development by
farmers and the government.
Banks as financiers have taken
a step forward by participating
in the agricultural space through
implementing agribusiness. Stanbic
Bank has developed funding models
that would give small-scale farmers
access to credit.
According to Mr. Kenneth
Makubate, head of Agribusiness
at Stanbic Bank, their bank has
committed itself to the development
of agriculture through innovative
funding which enables small-holder
farmers to maximize opportunities
including the purchase of direct
inputs like seeds and fertilizers.
However, most of their business
is focused mostly on commercial
agriculture. Bank Gaborone on the
other hand had designed insurance
policies targeted at those who
practice organized agriculture like
feedlots.
July 2012 6

11
July 2012

3
4
5
6
7
July 2012 8

2
1
Ghanzi Show
1. Delegates at Ghanzi Show 5. Display of Swans
2. Judging of Champion Ewe 6. Judging of rainfed produce
3. Police Band 7. Show Committee Chairperson,
Mr Jecktor Marambe
4. Cross Kgosidiile, the guest speaker
touring the stall
9
July 2012

BATSWANA
EMBRACE
ARTIFICIAL
INSEMINATION
Products of Artificial Insemination
July 2012 10

Article: Segomotso Basuti
Photos: Aggripah Willie
When I retired, I told myself
that I’m going to look after
my cattle for no one can do
a better job than I can.”
These are the words of a passionate
farmer. His eyes light up when he talks
about his cattle and the love he has for
them. Mr Tiyapo Sekgopa, told his wife
upon retiring from the public service in
1994 that he decided to go into cattle
rearing full time. He knew it was not
going to be easy, but also knew that
with passion everything was attainable.
In 1994, Sekgopa tried his luck at
Artificial Insemination (AI). He beams
when he counts the advantages of using
AI. Though the government allows one
farmer to bring only five cattle to the
AI Centre during insemination season,
he applauds the service as it gives an
opportunity for all farmers to have their
kraals boasting with good breeds.
Sekgopa says that AI increases the
chances of conception, adding that one
has power over the kind of breed they
desire to dominate their kraal, as the
farmer is given the choice of using the
best bulls to come up with the finest
offsprings. To top it off, he says with the
conception rate increasing, one can be
confident that their cows will increase
each breeding season.
Currently, Sekgopa has 104 herds
of cattle, 30 being products of AI. He
has not yet decided on which breed to
specialize in but the one that seems to be
winning his heart is the Limousine. He
says the reason behind this is because it
does not take a long time to calf.
A Diamond Driller by profession,
Sekgopa says he goes back
to work once in
a while on
contract agreement just to increase the
family income, saying that this is the
only time he engages a herd boy to look
after his cattle.
Sekgopa believes that the strategy he
has set for himself works pretty well.
“As I wanted to run my cattle post as a
business, I had to go an extra mile and
learn what I needed in order to achieve
this.”
Teaming up with his son, they collected
material and studied the diseases that
were prone to their area, at Mogotho wa
Dinotshi cattle post, Kweneng.
“Diseases are not really a problem here,
as we take all precautionary measures to
prevent them, the only thing worrisome
is the wild dogs which are very difficult
to ward off.”
Sekgopa says that he has ensured that
cattle maintain themselves. He works
by an inventory where all the activities
taking place in the farm are captured.
“I have bought a laptop which I use to
register everything, from administering
medicine, updating those that have given
birth, those that have died and even those
I have culled as a result of not
doing well.”
H e
f u r t h e r
states that
the inventory
also keeps record
of those he takes
to A.I camps and
the successful
and unsuccessful
inseminations that
occurred during
breeding period.
Sekgopa believes one cannot progress
if one does not do a documentation of
the everyday activities of his/her farm.
He believes this is the reason he has
continued to do well over the years.
Any livestock farmer in Botswana with
a valid Brand Certificate and Omang
can benefit from the A.I services. The
Principal Scientific Officer, Animal
Breeding, Aubrey Ranko stated that
each farmer is allowed to bring five (5)
cows per brand to be inseminated in a
breeding season.
Breeding season starts in September
and ends in March in government A.I
camps costing the farmer P50.00 for
the 5 cows to be inseminated with
locally collected semen. Ranko said
though there are problems that they may
encounter during breeding season such
as deaths due to diseases and predators,
Batswana have generally embraced the
artificial insemination service.
“The farmers’ response is very positive
because none of Government A.I camps
is underutilized and more farmers with
ranches are now venturing into the On-
Farm A.I programme.”
Ranko explained that the most
preferred breed by farmers is the
Brahman, and this could be
attributed to the Tswana type of
breed that is dominant amongst
local farmers. He said because of
this small framed Tswana breed,
little or no complications such as
dystocia are experienced during birth.
July 2012

Ghanzi Show A
Marvel Once More
Cross Kgosidiile
Cattle parade at Gantsi show
Article: Segomotso Basuti
Photos: Aggripah Willie
The time came once more for people to
embark on the remarkable pilgrimage
to Ghanzi through the Trans Kalahari
Highway. For most people, this event
is religiously marked on their yearly
calendars and it will be a cardinal sin for
them to miss it. First timers, never resist
the temptation to attain life membership
of this event. By all standards, this event
is infectious. Ghanzi District Agriculture
show has always attracted people from
all corners of the country, and outside as
well. Not only farmers but entrepreneurs,
the socialites, and financial institutions to
mention but a few make it to the district
to see what the show has in store for them.
This has been a tradition for years. The
first show to be held was in 1974. When
it started, the dominating aspect of the
show was livestock exhibitions. There
has been a significant change over the
years and this year had farmers bringing
forth a good harvest, something which is
not familiar to the show. Though the soil
in the area is generally not good for crop
production, the hunger for farmers to excel
in every part of agriculture led to them
sticking to those crops that do well in
Ghanzi district. The show with the theme
“Commercialize Agriculture, a solution to
food security and economic development,”
implored Batswana to strive to develop
the country’s agricultural sector in order
to diversify the economy of the country. In
his keynote address, the Chief Executive
Officer, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Mr
Cross Kgosidiile, acknowledged Ghanzi
District as one of the largest cattle farming
areas in Botswana.
“The quality and the number of cattle
produced in this area is a sure sign of your
commitment in growing the beef industry
of Botswana,” he said.
For farmers who travelled many
kilometers to learn from the show, they
were not disappointed. Kgomotso Maroba,
a farmer in Kadijenaa cattle post, Boteti,
said attending such an event makes him
grow as farming is all about learning from
the achievements of others.
“I really regret not coming with a van
because this year the bucks are selling
like fat cakes, I could have got myself
one or two.”
Giving a review of the preparation
of the show before the multitudes that
gathered there, the chairperson of the
show committee, Mr Jecktor Marambe
said that they were faced with the
challenge of turning their stumbling
blocks into achievements.
He implored all who took part to
show up for the evaluation meeting as a
way to rectify where they went wrong in
order to come back bigger and better the
following year.
Reflecting on the show, the chairman
stated that it provided a learning curve
each year as every year comes with
growth and changes and more challenges.
“There has been growth as this year we
saw big companies such as Barloworld
and BH Botswana exhibit for the first time
which attracted farmers to the show.”
Marambe said that this causes the
committee to persevere as whatever
happens, either good or bad, there
will always be feedback, and as the
show committee they have to account
for everything that happens during the
event.
July 2012 12

NATIONAL FRUIT TREE
NURSERY GROWS
Botswana is one
of the countries
that still import
fruits and vegetables
from other countries
especially South
A f r i c a a t v e r y
costly price. This
has brought about
the idea to establish a
national fruit tree nursery
at Ditladi village, 9km east
of Tonota village. The national
year demand for orange trees is
6000, mangoes, leaches and
paw paw stands at 2000.
The national fruit tree nursery
manager, Ms Velleminah
Pelokgale, says “the nursery
was established to among others,
increase fruit production through
establishments of orchards in Botswana,
monitor national fruit tree production,
market needs and to generate income.”
The National Fruit Tree Nursery was also
made to develop standards of seedlings
quality and evaluating species, provenances,
varieties and other germ plasm through the
establishment of gene bank and mother
rootstock blocks. Furthermore, the project
is intended for technical and leadership
capacity building. Pelokgale states that
since its establishment in 2003/4, the
project has promoted a number
of projects in the country.
Adding that farmers come
from all over the country,
as far as Okavango and
Tsabong to buy fruit
trees. She reveals that
they propagate fruit trees
seedlings, especially citrus
and mangoes in order
to reduce importation
of fruit trees seedlings
from foreign nurseries,
which is expensive to the
government and individuals.
She adds that the nursery users include
nursery operators themselves, individuals,
community organisations, farmers groups,
government agencies and non governmental
organisations including corporate, private
and other stakeholders.
The national fruit tree nursery which is
situated in a 27 hectares area is divided into
four operational divisions which comprise
of root stock area which is four hectares and
currently is planted with 182 Eureka lemons
and rough lemons; three hectare gene bank
planted with assorted 263 citrus, 45 table
grapes and 58 olives. The other area is for
mother block and the potting/progation area.
The national fruit tree nursery is located in
a very fertile flat area with good drainage and
good soils and proximity to the Shashe river
where the farm draws its water. The manager
says that the area is readily accessible, which
makes it a good venue for training and field
visits by students from various institutions,
nursery operators and interested groups. She
also reveals that the staff often act as trainers
and commonly is accomodative and willing
to assist. Pelokgale adds that the area’s semimodern
infrastructure complimented by
moderately trained staff ensures that their
small industrial nurseries are outstanding
training venues for basic and advanced
nursery propagation techniques.
“The extensive nursery facility was
established to achieve the staggering seedling
and land rehabilitation in Botswana.”
The nursery imports cuttings from South
Africa and later multiplies them. She says
that they follow international importation
bilateral laws and rules, adding that they
only buy from accredited nurseries. And that
only the government through the Ministry of
Agriculture imports such plants. Pelokgale
reveals this is to ensure no plants from non
accredited nurseries cross into the coutry.
The main reason being to avoid diseases,
pests like fruit fly crossing over. She says
that it would not be easy to control such
if individuals were to import on their own,
stating that with individuals anything could
happen.
Ms Pelokgale posits that the project faces a
Ms Vellemiah Pelokgale says there is a high
demand for citrus plants countrywide
number of challenges. She says that it is very
expensive to run the nursery adding that it
is incomplete. She adds that the netshadings
need to be paved inside. She says that if the
area was paved it was going to be easy to
disinfect after taking out stock. She also says
that dry land encourages weeds to grow
rapidly as opposed to a green house where
they would not survive because they are not
used to such conditions.
She adds that unpaved floors also result
in sinking, rusting, breaking of nursery table
legs and base,resulting in high maintenance
costs. She says that insects are also a
menace adding that termites also harass
their plants. She, however, controls them
by digging out anthills, burning them and
putting insecticides. She posits that there are
incidences of non migratory pests such as
thrips,scales,orange dogs, grasshopper and
fruitfly. She also says that as a precautionary
measure to avert diseases they disinfect at
the main gate and at entrances to the green
houses. She says this would avoid carrying
in diseases that might be trapped in shoes
and tyres. The fruit tree nursery develops
citrus/orange varieties like palmer navel,bah
navel, delta valencia, midnite valencia,
maclean,impress mandarine,minowasi
mandarine. Mangoes-tommy atkins, kent,
reitz,zeal. Avocado; mexican and indiana.
Olives; mission corithian. Bananas chinese
dwarf. Peaches; omsreal.
Joel Kokwere says they need funds
to pave tunnels.
13
July 2012

Article & Photos: Keamogetse Boitshepo
Flags of various institutions ranging
from financial institutions, inputs
shops, equipment dealers as well
as relevant government departments
decorated the annual Pandamatenga
Harvest Day in rainbow colors.
Even though the event is emulating
the South African Nampo exhibition
concept, is now being customized to
suit the local culture and needs.
According to the Pandamatenga
Commercial Farmers Association
(P.C.F.A) chairperson, Tienie Kruger
the event intends to create a platform
for information and skills exchange
between commercial and small scale
farmers. He, therefore, requested the
Ministry of Lands and Housing to
allocate 100 hectares of land for the
use of the event. He said the land will
be developed with proper structures to
ensure the event’s growth and success.
Displays of different heavy duty
agricultural machinery of various
dealers created an excitement that
was evident in people as they went
around looking at the implements.
The appearance of the venue in many
ways depicted the theme, “Unity
and technology of Chobe, filling the
PANDAMATENGA
H A R V E S T D AY
Botswana food basket.”
“ B o t s w a n a f o o d b a s k e t ” , i s
Pandamatenga commercial farms
synonym. This cannot be easily disputed
considering that the cluster produces
90% of the locally produced cereal
grain. Driven by their passion to produce
food, the P.C.F.A farmers believe that
up scaling the small scale farmers is a
good remedy to curb the current food
shortage in the country. They intend
to use the annual show to achieve this
goal. This year, the show grew bigger
to include small scale farmers from
Pandamatenga, Paragarungu, Katshikau
and Kavimba.
Kruger said the only way Botswana
could be self sufficient and have food
security is when small scale farmers
become commercial.
“The quicker we can assist
small scale farmers to also become
commercial farmers who can sell their
crops locally the better for all of us in
Botswana.”
With the alarming rate of population
growth, Kruger said Botswana should
not be caught unprepared like other
countries where food shortage and
starvation are a horrific reality. He
said the looming horror of starvation
and hunger was taken lightly by those
countries that are currently stricken
by hunger. As such, Kruger pleaded
with government to reconsider the
ISPAAD package to make provisions
for chemical purchases. With the
current climatic conditions, he said
the use of chemicals is imperative for
good crop production.
Demonstration at the Harvest Day
July 2012 14

Kruger,Mokalake, Kgosi Baniki and Molebatsi
admiring one of the exhibits
“We see their crop when it is planted
and it compares extremely well with
those of commercial farmers, but then
all of a sudden it fades away because of
insects as these crops are not sprayed.”
Kruger said the current ISPAAD
package is good and a commendable
effort by government ,but he termed it
‘half package.’ He, therefore, advised
that it should be made ‘full package’ to
support the efforts of small scale farmers
who are currently healing wounds of
drought of the previous planting season.
The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr
Lebonaamang Mokalake praised P.C.F.A
for embracing and facilitating a show
of such a nature. With the production
status such events, he said can be used
to promote improved technologies that
can increase production yield.
Mokalake concurred with the vision
of growing the event to make it regional,
hence attract attendants from abroad.
“It is my hope that Chobe Harvest Day
should grow in stature to such an extent
that it becomes a regional event where
neighboring countries will attend.”
Further, Mokalake appreciated the
choice of the theme and the way it was
portrayed. According to him, unity among
all the arable agriculture stakeholders
is important to pull the country from
the shame of importing its staple food
from as far as Australia. He said it goes
without saying that technology has also
characterized farming in Pandamatenga
and enabled them to feed Botswana.
With mechanization, good management
practices and use of high yield varieties,
Mokalake said Pandamatega farms have
far much higher productivity rate than
the national average. Reflecting on the
production history of Pandamatenga,
Mokalake noted that for the year 2010/11
planting season, about 22 000 hectares
was planted and production was about
43 000 tonnes of sorghum. This, he
said, states the obvious that subsistence
farmers have a lot to learn for Botswana
to achieve maximum production from
the 300 000 hectares cultivated under
ISPAAD.
“If other farmers were as productive
as Pandamatenga, we would have
produced enough cereal for local
consumption or even had excess for
export.”
Mokalake praised Pandamatenga
farmers who are tutoring and offering
attachments to small scale farmers.
“These small scale farmers are more
likely to improve their production
methods, because they have learnt
and adapted new production systems
through practice and experience.”
However, Mokalake regretted that
despite efforts by his ministry to avail land
for arable production, a considerable
amount remain uncultivated. He warned
those with uncultivated land to make use
of it because soon his Ministry will be
forced to repossess the land.
15
July 2012

Questions
&
Answers
Article: Keamogetse Boitshepo
Photos: Aggripah Willie
Agrinews was in Pandamatenga
recently for the Harvest
Day. It became clear that
the Pandamatenga Agricultural
infrastructure development project
is ongoing. Keamogetse Boitshepo
talks to Mr Stanley Semetsa, Project
Manager, Pandamatenga Infrastructure
Development Project.
For those of our readers who are not
aware of the development, briefly tell
us what Pandamatenga Agricultural
infrastructure development project is?
The Pandamatenga Agricultural
Infrastructure Development Project
was envisaged in 1997, after the
Department of Crop Production
realized that the farmers in the area
were experiencing challenges of crop
production, which amongst others,
included destruction of crops by
wildlife, flooding and inaccessibility
into the farms during the rainy season.
In 2000 the Department of Crop
Production erected a 91km electric
fence around the entire 25 040 ha of
farms. After completion of the fence,
the Department embarked on securing
funding to construct a road network
and drainage system. In 2006 the
African Development Bank expressed
interest in funding the project called
the “Pandamatenga Agricultural
Infrastructure Development Project”,
which they subsequently funded in
2009.
What does the project entail?
The project comprises of three
components 1) Infrastructure
D e v e l o p m e n t - w h i c h e n t a i l s
construction of 180 km of gravel
surfaced road, “open drains” drainage
system, and supporting ancillary
infrastructure, 2) Agricultural
Production Improvement-mobilize
farming community and build capacity,
3) Project Coordination-strengthen
capacity of the project implementation
team.
When was it started and why ?
The loan was signed in April 2009,
but actual construction started 1st
August 2011. The procurement of the
contractor took longer than anticipated.
What has been achieved by far and is
it going according to schedule?
To date the project is at 20% overall.
The project is behind schedule due to
prolonged mobilization period by the
contractor, and the “unworkable” wet
conditions.
The area is underlain by black cotton
soils which are virtually unworkable
when wet.
How is it envisioned to help
Pandamatenga farmers?
One of the major objectives of the
project is to improve crop productivity,
yields for smallscale farmers will
increase from the current 0.5ton to
2.5 tonnes, whilst for the Commercial
it will increase from 2.5 tonnes to
3.5tonnes.
How is the project intended to improve
the arable agriculture as a whole?
Given that the area contributes about
75% of the cereal production in the
country, increase in yield in the area
has a significant contribution to food
security.
When is the project expected to
end?
Completion of the project is planned
for 31st July, 2014.
How much is the project estimated to
cost and who is funding it?
The total cost of the project is USD
60,020 million (about BWP464 million
at current exchange rate) (will be
financed by African Development Bank),
whilst the Botswana Government will
finance with about USD 8, 1 million
(about BWP 62 million). It is important
to note that at preparatory stage of the
project, the African Development Bank
awarded the Government of Botswana
two grants at a total of about BWP
12million.
July 2012 16

Versions Of Progress
I
love agriculture, I always have.
I am completely spellbound by
germination and by pollination. I
love being in a vet clinic and seeing
faces of satisfied animal lovers. I
love the smell of cow dung in the
morning. I love the scenery of a
typical moraka or masimo. It is a
path that I have always known I will
venture. Agriculture is not something
I fell in to, it is a natural talent.
It has not always been easy to admit
as most of my peers found humour
in my passion. To this day, some
frown at my decision to choose
such a “dirty” path. With remarks
and questions such as.......A o rata di
plot mo go kalo? Ao gatwe animal
health motho o go boning o leleka
di koko!? Ako loe go koba dikgomo
fa thoko ga tsela. And yes, in social
scenes I choose to say it less loudly....
Agriculture??? Oh, o mmalophalo
goriana!
I do not blame them though as youth
in our society have succumbed to
what is deemed “white collar” jobs;
the lawyers, marketing managers,
or IT specialists. See, we are so
used to the idea of agriculture being
a required routine in our school
system; a tedious chore of watering
the gardens and weeding. Maybe
an enhancement in our school
curriculum would have changed
our mindset.
Am I surprised to find Botswana
with not enough food to feed its
mouth? Our neighbouring friends
Zambia and South Africa have
a different attitude despite their
superior placement of resources. A
change in outlook would lift not only
our GDP and production quality but
our natural pride in farming, that our
father`s fathers had. Existing farmers
might then have a nudge to uplift
themselves to a more competitive
state. The right support might find
potential farmers looking for more
diversified ways of uplifting the
economy.
I stopped most of my friends from
laughing when I made them realise
that, Advocate, Director, or Fashion
designer, it is I the agriculturalist
that takes care of your stomach
indiscriminately. Do not bite the
hand that feeds you.
17
July 2012

Compiled by Segomotso Basuti
Word Grid
July Grid
A body of still
water
Nothing
Birds’s home
Comes after
Autumn
Food for horses
and cattle
You
and I
A man’s best
friend
A cutting tool
Grass dried for fodder
A confinement for animals
The
thing
Not
hot
Female horse
Eat growing grass
Female
hare
A cattle-breading
establishment
Artificial insemination
(abbr)
Top
mark
What you sow
Barrel
Where plants
are kept
Emergency
Room (abbr)
Yellow part of
egg
Snakelike Fish
Our neighboring
country
What we breathe
Used for catching
fish
A village in
Botswana
Where animals
are kept
Not
off
North
(abbr)
A cow that’s not giving
milk
Ton
(abbr)
Non government
organization
A fruit
Relating to ions
Sick
Zero
A
vowel
Not
near
Type of planting
A leguminous
plant
Where bees are
kept
For your
information
Male sheep
Rub
out
Unwanted Plant
Roman
one
Farm tool
Not
out
Goat Breed Negative Answer Pig
L I M E A citrus fruit In good physical
shape
H E A L T H Y Year
(abbr)
In the middle of I H Bee Product U A small house O Type of soil R
Period without D R O U G H T First A O A vegetable
rain
vowel
RB1 Agric show N North Gram A pig’s home Animal disease M A N G E
(abbr) (abbr)
M A I Z E Top
Mark
The element
carbon
S K I Glide on snow I A meditation
process
A Cereal plant Y A C H T A light sailing
Y O G A
vessel
T U L I Cattle breed Yellow part of Y O L K N N
egg
I Legumes P E A S W O Knockout Ton T
(abbr) (abbr)
M
Botswana Agricultural Marketing I Not O L D Pig Breed G Social insect
Board
new
E W E Not B A D A nocturnal bird D U R O C
good
L A female sheep A Help Diamond town West Last E
Leave
vowel
A U T U M N Informal A
J W A N E N G
greeting vowel
A man’s best O Pull B A H I Local Enterprise Not Water collection T
O
friend
season
Authority (abbr) you source
D E W Atmospheric Government assistance L I M I D Address welcomingly
vapour programme
O
Not
off
O X Farm animal East E E A Not
out
I Not
yours
G R I N Smile broadly C L A Y Type of soil M I N E
June
solutions
July 2012 18

Teasers
Compiled By Segomotso Basuti
Did you Know?
Field crops can be found in
a w i d e va r i e t y o f e ve r y d ay
household products, including
cosmetics, dyes, clothing and
more.
Did you Know?
A m a t u r e s h e e p w i l l e a t
approximately three kg of hay
and grass per day. Weaned lambs
will eat about one kg of grain and
one kg of hay or grass every day.
Did you Know?
A cow will spend approximately
six h o u r s a d ay e a t i n g and
approximately eight hours a day
chewing its cud.
Did you Know?
Bees have two stomachs - one
stomach for eating and the other
special stomach is for storing
nectar collected from flowers or
water so that they can carry it
back to their hive.
Did you Know?
Chickens are omnivores; in the
wild a chicken will dine on
plants but it will also snack on
bugs and slugs and other meat
protein sources.
Did you Know?
Each mature beef animal will drink
between 35 and 65 litres of water
every day depending on their feed
source and the outside temperature.
Did you Know?
Dairy cows give an average of 27
litres of milk per day.
Did you Know?
The first meal the calf receives
from its mother is thick, sticky milk
called colostrum. This milk contains
antibodies that provide them with
immunity to disease. After two to
three days, the colostrum changes
to milk.
Did you Know?
Milk can be processed into cheese,
butter, ice cream, yogurt, cream
cheese, sour cream, skim milk
powder and more.
Did you Know?
A queen bee may lay as many as
2,000 eggs in a single day.
Did you Know?
Honey is 25 per cent sweeter than
sugar because of its high fructose
content.
19
July 2012

LENANEO LA DITSHUPO TSA TEMO THUO, 2012
REGION DISTRICT DATE VENUE
CONTACTS
Southern(Kanye) 1. Jwaneng
Pitseng
DAO 5803100
2. Mmathethe Motsentse
DAO 5400086
3. Kanye Kanye
DAO 5440279
4. Moshupa Manyana
DAO 5449112
5.Goodhope
Good hope
DAO 5486231
Western (Kang) 1. Ghanzi 23-25 June 2012
Ghanzi
DAO 6596217
Ms Makabeletso L/board 6596236
2. Tsabong
Tsabong
DAO 6540300
3. Hukuntsi
Tshane
DAO 6510261/242
Maun
1.Ngamiland
west(Gumare)
2. Ngamiland
East(Maun)
27,28 July 2012
Gumare
6874055/9
1-4 Aug 2102
Maun
DAO 6860579/230
3. Chobe ( Kasane) 29-30 June 2012
Pandamatenga
DAO 6250211
4. Okavango
(Shakawe)
Shakawe
DAO 6875040
Francistown 1. Masunga No show
Sekakangwe
DAO 2489889
2. Tonota 20,21, 22 July 2012
Tonota
DAO 2484261
3. Tutume 27,28,29 July 2012
Tutume
DAO 2987310 / Chizhala 72914725
Central
( Serowe)
1. Bobonong 29,30,31 June 1 July
Bobonong DAO 2619218 / 357 / 72554965
2012
2. Selebi-Phikwe
Mmadinare DAO 2614920
3. Serowe 28,29,30 June 2012
Serowe DAO 4635373 Boyce Sekgoma 71920227
4. Boteti ( Letlhakane) 6,7,8 July 2012
Makalamabedi DAO 2978325
5. Mahalapye 3,4,5 August 2012
Mahalapye DAO 4710676
6. Machaneng 20,21,22 July 2012
Machaneng DAO 4940238
7. Palapye 6 - 7 July 2012
Maunatlala DAO 4920240
Gaborone
1. Kweneng South 3,4,5 August 2012
Molepolole DAO 5921051
2. Kweneng North
Lentsweletau DAO 5779207
3. Mochudi 25 July 2012
Mochudi DAO 5777257 / 5710068
4. Ramotswa
Ramotswa DAO 5390222/910
5. Kweneng West 26 – 28 July 2012
Letlhakeng DAO 5943017/72161096/73393998/7192
0227
NATIONAL AGRIC
27 Aug - 1 Sept
Gaborone Secretariat 3689132/ 9116
SHOW
2012
Key - DAO - District Agricultural Office. C/E - Crop Exhibition
Fax: - 3906769 Contacts: 3689115