We are not chopping down farmers - Choppies

Although the farmer does not name any chain store in his article, he nonetheless makes it clear to the reader when he mentions a citizen owned chain store. Choppies is the only citizen owned chain store with outlets throughout Botswana. In this response we do not intend to answer for other chain stores.

We paraphrase the writer of the article as follows; he is a beneficiary of CEDA funding, will start servicing his loan by end of November, and that the problem of farmers ability to meet their obligations to CEDA and presumably to other creditors lies with the attitude (buying price) of major chain stores operating in Botswana. The starting point is that the farmer is a businessman with his obligations and wants to maximize his returns. In this regard he is no different from any other businessman, including chain stores.