Millers look to discontinue grain imports
Friday, August 18, 2017
Less than 10% of grain demand is produced locally
Currently, the millers consume a total of 120,000 tonnes of white maize per annum, of which the majority is imported from South Africa (SA) and other global suppliers such as the United States (US), Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.
According to the Botswana Millers Association chairperson, Nkosi Mwaba, if farmers commercialise their harvests reach levels of about 120,000 tonnes, subject to acceptable price and quality, millers are willing to take up the entire crop.
That rare sight deserves heartfelt praise, not only for President Duma Boko and his administration, but also for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), the Mogae family, and the entire country.President Boko’s decision to grant a full state funeral to a man who belonged to a rival party was a mark of true statesmanship. He recognised that national leadership carries a weight that belongs to the whole...