Youth-led agric project pushes for national support
Katlego Rantsho | Wednesday July 9, 2025 12:26
The 26-year-old Motswana shared in an interview insights into the work his non-profit organisation which he says endevours to empower youth and drive community development across the country. She told The Monitor that Tsebe a groundbreaking agricultural initiative is what he is planning to do at Moeding College, aimed at transforming the lives of young people through sustainable farming and entrepreneurship. The project named National Agricultural Project seeks to address food insecurity, youth unemployment, and environmental degradation in Botswana.
He emphasised that the initiative is not something that started recently but is a long-standing vision rooted in his time as Student Representative Council vice president at Boitekanelo College.
During that time, he actively raised concerns about youth development and empowerment, which later inspired him to join the United Pan African Movement Botswana.
According to Tsebe, his passion and vocal advocacy for youth issues led to the formation of this project, where they grouped themselves as high school leavers and started it.
He stated that the project was born out of genuine concern to uplift and improve the lives of young people across the country.
'The primary purpose of the project is to develop a greenhouse facility that provides practical agricultural training to students whilst promoting the production of healthy vegetables in a controlled environment,' Tsebe said.
With rising unemployment and a growing demand for food security, the initiative is timely and much-needed.
The project proposal states that the initiative will provide skills development in horticulture, promote health and nutrition, and support local food production.
He further said it stands out for its strategic approach to community engagement.
'It includes a clear structure, the initial construction of greenhouses, followed by training programmes, pilot production, and finally long-term implementation with sales and reinvestment into the project,' he added.
Tsebe highlighted that unemployment is one of the issues that concerned him, and because he had potential, he had to act.
Other benefits include improved nutrition through access to fresh produce, as Botswana does not provide enough for the country.
The project also aims to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods by creating entrepreneurial opportunities for young people.
According to the project documents, it will not only target Moeding College students but also benefit the wider community by offering training opportunities to out-of-school youth and vulnerable populations.
It also promises to foster partnerships with local stakeholders, including farmers and agribusinesses.
'The project's uniqueness lies in its best design. It merges environmental sustainability with economic empowerment.
'This comprehensive approach ensures that participants not only gain knowledge but also understand the business side of agriculture,' Tsebe said.
He also called on government officials, private businesses, and key stakeholders to support the project and finance the youth-led agricultural initiative, emphasising that the vision extends beyond farming to include broader community development.
Tsebe revealed that they have another project proposal in Gaborone North where they wish to build a stable gravel road.
He said one of the challenges he faced was financial issues, as it relied solely on personal funding for transport and daily costs, trying to make their project come to life.
Despite the project’s potential, he said age has often been a barrier, with some officials questioning his capacity due to his youth.
He also noted that he met with the Minister of Education (and Skills Development), and the concern was how the project would be funded.
A formal launch is being planned for Moeding College with an open invitation extended to stakeholders to join and support the initiative around October.