Mmadinare Cooperative calls for investment in citrus spinoffs
Friday, March 29, 2024 | 420 Views |
Fertile soils: The Mmadinare Cooperative has the opportunity to partner in value added activities around the citrus project
Currently, MMCSL leases its 1,500-hectare land to SPC under a 50-year agreement, generating annual rental income that exceeds P900,000. As part of the lease agreement, MMCSL has the opportunity to purchase a 10% stake in SPC, valued at over P40 million, a venture currently beyond its financial means. MMCSL has also been granted the first right of refusal for various spinoff opportunities at SPC. These include juice concentrate production, an agency to sell third-grade fruits remaining in Botswana, a filling station, and wooden pallets for packaging produce for local and international markets. Chairperson of MMCSL, Motlamorago Gaseitsiwe, emphasised the cooperative's openness to partnering with external investors to capitalise on these spinoffs and create more job opportunities for Batswana.
“We invite other cooperatives to join forces with us by investing in the citrus spin-offs. “We also invite all other interested investors to reach out to us,” he said recently, during the various events that marked the first harvest at SPC. Gaseitsiwe told Mmegi that he is very optimistic that investors and other cooperatives across the country will explore the opportunity to partner with MMCSL. "We haven't initiated talks with potential investors or interested cooperatives yet. “However, we anticipate receiving proposals starting in April and exploring investment options related to the spinoffs. We were just waiting for the first harvest," he stated, emphasising the feasibility of SPC's spinoffs. "Regarding acquiring the 10% shareholding at SPC, we have just initiated the process. We are considering directly purchasing the shares with financial institutions' assistance," he added.
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...