Horticulture is not growing - BHC chair

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Friday September 16, 2011 00:00

During the 23rd biannual conference of the horticultural sector held in Gaborone yesterday, the BHC was urged to minimise its dependence on the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) for it to grow.

The Coordinator of the National Master Plan for the Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD) Fred Modise, said that as a business, the horticultural sector and its association needs to transform because if government continues to run it, it will never reach its full potential.   

'There is too much involvement of officers from the Ministry of Agriculture in the running of this association, and it needs to be reduced because you are a business,' Modise said, adding that MoA should not be seen to be running the association. 

Modise said the elective conference, held under the theme, 'Horticulture For Health For All By 2016' had to compel the incoming executive committee to directly tackle the challenges that afflict the industry instead of seeking solutions from the MoA.

He added that the ministry can help but the association should have time to discuss its internal issues. BHC chairperson, Michael Diteko lamented that the horticulture sub-sector has not grown significantly in the last five years.

In 2001 the local market produced 10 per cent of the national demand. By 2005, this increased to about 50 per cent.

'However, between 2006 and to date, the figure has not changed. There is a need for self-introspection,' Diteko said.

Modise stated that producers, traders and the government need to do even more serious work before the industry can start experiencing growth.

He blasted farmers for individualism and being fragmented in a young economy. He advised that given the size of the market, farms and demand from traders there is need to produce as clusters and integrate then in the supply chain.

Moreover, he said the analysis of the local horticulture value chain shows a number of weak links between research and development, financial institutions, producers and traders.

'At the input level most of the projects are underfinanced and end up failing due to pressure from day one of production, research and development is also lacking,' Diteko said.

He added that at production level capacity building and production skills are still lacking mainly due to lack of appropriate technology.

Modise said producers have a mammoth task of meeting customer demand round the year and ensure availability of produce, good quality and traceability, among others.

He also expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that from independence to date local research institutions like the Botswana College of Agriculture have not produced any vegetable breed suitable for local conditions. 

Currently, 40 per cent of the demand for vegetables is locally produced whilst the bulk is still imported from neighbouring South Africa. The target is to have local produce satisfy 65 per cent of the national demand by 2016.