NAPRO calls for gov�t procurement support

Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday July 26, 2017 12:05

Speaking during a tour of the plant by the Central District Council’s (CDC) executive committee, operations manager, Ramogoma Kaisara said this could assist NAPRO to achieve its mandate of developing the horticultural sector and ensuring food security.

He added that they uplift local farmers hence it is important that all stakeholders strictly buy from NAPRO.

“Government must assist by buying for some of its institutions such as hospitals, schools and even prisons. That is why we have to collaborate with all stakeholders and we have even toured councils to address them,” he said.

NAPRO buys horticultural produce from farmers for processing and sells packaged products such as mixed vegetables pickles, tomato sauce, atchar and beetroot.

He stressed that if stakeholders put their hands together, food security, economic diversification and poverty eradication could be achieved.

“The country is still importing horticultural products. Why can’t we substitute with the little that NAPRO produces by buying locally?” he wondered.

Kaisara said though their market is growing locally, it is not at the pace at which they wish it could be because they are competing with already established brands in the market. Some of NAPRO’s products are currently sold in Choppies and Sefalana stores.

He added that government policies should be supportive of NAPRO and look where advantages can be gained then exploit them. He said P10.9 million was invested in the national agro processing plant from the Poverty Eradication Fund. He noted that the idea is to run the plant for five years, then look for an investor.    

The CDC delegation suggested that NAPRO should also travel to farmers to collect the produce instead of expecting farmers to come and deliver. They said farmers should also be empowered to produce enough to sustain the plant.

CDC chairperson, Peter Williams said it is not easy to succeed in business because of lack of capital and expensive raw materials. He said as a result people prefer to buy materials from South Africa. He decried that Batswana like promoting imported products instead of locally produced goods. “Let us support local products. We fully pledge our support to NAPRO products as the CDC,” he said.