Mmegi

Phikwe Citrus' first harvest due next month

Giant leap: The Phikwe Citrus Project is one of the region’s largest operations and is expected to yield 70,000 tonnes per annum at full capacity
Giant leap: The Phikwe Citrus Project is one of the region’s largest operations and is expected to yield 70,000 tonnes per annum at full capacity

The P500 million Selebi-Phikwe Citrus project is expected to yield its first harvest next month, marking a significant leap in Botswana's drive to enhance agricultural production.

Johan Janse van Vuuren, the project’s Operations Manager, conveyed to Businessweek on Tuesday that this harvest would signify Botswana's first-ever citrus exports. The initial harvest will feature lemons, followed by oranges, grapefruit, and naartjies in subsequent seasons.

“Everything is going well at the farm, and we are getting ready to start exporting our first-ever harvest which will be lemons,” he said.


Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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