Farmers Market disrupts agricultural value chains
Lewanika Timothy | Tuesday November 28, 2023 06:00
The spirited entrepreneur is bent on creating a platform that sparks conversations on how agriculture in Botswana can be made better and he does this through a renowned farmers market that is hosted annually in Molepolole. The farmers market is a network session of agricultural entrepreneurs and farmers, organised to serve as a platform where farmers can showcase their produce.
The agric get together has attracted mass interest from Batswana who usually use this as a chance to purchase fresh farm produce from farmers. “We are advocates of value chain development, we want to strengthen the market cords that join farmers and consumers,” he said.
Modikone relays that he has always had a passion for agriculture from an early age, citing that growing up he always wondered why Botswana can’t produce enough to feed herself. The passion to bring together farmers and consumers sterns from what he calls “a burning desire to rejuvenate agriculture in Botswana”.
The get together additionally offers stalls to entrepreneurs in the culinary space, who usually serve what Modikone calls “delicious arrays” to customers who come to the food market. The Agri-Entrepreneur revealed that the prime vision for the event is to create a platform where farmers can get direct market access to their customers without enduring the cost and pain of selling through retailers. “We want farmers to leave with off take agreements that will assure that their produce will be absorbed by their market once it’s ready.
“It’s all about strengthening relations in the value chain. We want producers, distributors and consumers to be aligned,” he said. Modikone further revealed that sales generated from the event will be reinvested into a farm he co owns with other entrepreneurs, to further strengthen their participation in agricultural value chains. “The proceeds from the event will be reinvested into enhancing the food production capacity of the farm,” he added. The vision for the farmers market is to be a national event that sparks a revolution in the agriculture value chains.