Small stock farming flourishes in Kgalagadi Small stock farming ...

AGRICULTURAL SERVICESUPPORT PROJECT (ASSP)The Ministry of Agriculture istirelessly researching andstrategizing ways to improvethe agricultural sector, henceimprove food security at alllevels. Keamogetse Boitshepo istalking to the Project Manager,Agricultural Service SupportProject (ASSP), Ms IkgopolengDaisy Thamae about one of therecently launched assistanceprojects.1. W h a t i s AgriculturalService Support Project (ASSP)?ASSP is a five year pilot projectdesigned to enhance theproductivity of rain fedagriculture through use ofi m p r o v e d a g r i c u l t u r a ltechnologies, lower cost farmmechanization and developa viable model for smallholderirrigation using waste waterresources.2. W h a t n e c e s s i t a t e destablishing of this Project?The need to reduce ruralpovertyLow yield productionHeavy dependency on foodimportsH e a v y d e p e n d e n c yo n s u b s i d i e s w h i c h a r eunsustainable in the long run.3. What main challengesis the Project attempting tosolve?To reduce dependencyon subsidies and welfaremeasures in the agriculturalsector.Low technology adoption andresultant low yields.4. Which group is the projecttargeting and why?S m a l l h o l d e r h o u s e h o l d sexperiencing household foodand income insecurity5. W h i c h d e v e l o p m e n tstrategies and policies doesthe project relate with?.Vision 2016.NDP 10. T h e N a t i o n a l P o l i c y o nAgricultural Development.The National Food Security.The Rural Development Policy.The Revised National Strategyfor Poverty Reduction.The Agricultural Sector GenderPolicy.The National Policy on Womenin Development.The National Master Plan forWastewater and Sanitation6. There seem to be arelation between ISPAAD andASSP. What is the relation?ASSP complements ISPAADin terms of implementationin order to refocus ISPAADso that it could become amore effective instrument ininfluencing improved results(yields). It does this throughpromoting “improved farming”amongst smallholders as wellas forging close partnershipwith key stakeholders tosupport smallholders in orderto make the objective of foodsecurity possible.7. How and when is theProject planned to roll out?Project roll out will be throughdistricts consultative meetings,districts startup workshops andstakeholder consultations. ASSPwill first pilot its interventionsat Parakarungu, Tonotaand Jwaneng AgriculturalService Centers as prioritizedunder ISPAAD. The projectcommenced on April 2012.8. Who is funding the Project?Government of Botswanaand the International Fundfor Agricultural Development(IFAD)9. When is the Projectexpected to end?31 st March 2017.10. Any other information?ASSP: Promoting SustainableSmallholder AgriculturalProduction.T h e T h e m e f o r 2 0 1 2 - 1 3Plan is “Raising Awarenessand Mobilizing for ASSPImplementation.”August 2012 10