Agro-processing plant to reduce horticultural imports
Friday, November 13, 2015
Botswana currently needs 73, 000 tonnes of horticultural products per annum against the only 43, 000 tonnes produced locally.
Briefing members of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi recently, Kebakile said the import bill stood at P1.8 billion annually. The horticultural industry is valued at P700 million hence the need to set up the agro processing plant.
Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...