The bulk of the produce, or about 70%, is targeted for export to Northern hemisphere markets such as the United States of America, Canada, UK, Europe as well as the Middle East, Asia, China and Japan. The balance will go to the local market and the SADC region while a small percentage will be provided for agro-processing into fruit juice and other products. The P500 million project launched last year occupies 1,500 hectares of land on Mannaesi Farm, which belongs to the Mmadinare Multipurpose Cooperative Society, located on the outskirts of Selebi-Phikwe.
This week, officials at the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), which is amongst the entities driving the project, said when complete, the project is expected to feature 750,000 trees. The citrus farm will also include the commissioning of four dams, a 12-kilometre water pipeline, construction of four main pumphouses and fitting of pumps. “The project will assist in diversifying the country’s agro-industry, with spin-off effects that will generate other value chain business opportunities,” the BITC said in a statement this week. “The project will transform the landscape of citrus production in Botswana and contribute to economic growth as a whole.
