GHANZI SHOW - Ministry of Agriculture

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