A new world opens for Batswana in Botswana
Friday, June 23, 2017
Many people in Botswana live and die without seeing the natural wonders citizens of other countries spend fortunes to experience. From the World Heritage Sites of Tsodilo Hills and the Okavango Delta, to the hundreds of historical and natural splendours, Batswana are largely unable to access these and not because of a lack of desire.
Tourism in the country is a US-dollar priced affair, targetted largely at US-dollar based source markets in the developed world, including a growing focus on China. The prices of a single night in the pristine wilderness camps of the Okavango can reach far beyond P25,000, in a country where a 2015 survey found that 90% of citizens earn less than P10,000 a month.
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...