SELEBI-PHIKWE: While implementation of agriculture programmes and policies was ongoing countrywide, the urban setup of Selebi-Phikwe and set standards for urban areas prohibited majority of those programmes to be implemented here.This was according to an issue paper produced by the Urban Development Committee (UDC), which was presented to councillors during a special full council meeting recently.The UDC came up with the paper after they held a workshop that sought to identify policy bottlenecks and mitigations, which can be employed in the remaining half of the plan period.The issue paper revealed a sorry state for Selebi-Phikwe in regard to agricultural programmes that are being touted by government as what the doctor ordered for the poverty-stricken members of the community.Agriculture programmes such as LIMID, ISPAAD and others do not apply to Selebi-Phikwe, as there is no land for such programmes in the town, the paper revealed. Councillors were informed that there was no land for such programmes in the copper/nickel town by the committee, using their prepared issue paper.
In response, councillors tried to call for urgent use of undeveloped land around town specifically for the agriculture programmes, especially since there are already members of the community who have been trained and have qualified for the programmes. They said making use of undeveloped land around town must be pushed even if it means applying to the Central District Council (CDC), as part of the town's land is under the CDC.
