Ballooning import prompts diversification- Motowane
Friday, November 05, 2010
The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Maxwell Motowane, said this on Tuesday at the end of the two-day pitso that was themed "Key to Sustainable Economic Growth and Vibrant Globally Competitive PrivateSector."
Motowane said the EDD initiative was necessitated by the need to reduce the country's import bill, which stood at P20 billion at the end of the last financial year. He said the private sector had a critical role to play in achieving goals of the EDD.
The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...