Different speakers at the just-ended Botswana-South Africa Business Forum expressed the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) graduates are not utilised enough to improve the agricultural sector.
Woolworths country manager, Gorata Lekau said if these experts are hired at the farms, it will improve the produce giving farmers a higher chance of getting a highly profitable market. “Retailers mostly do not comprise in terms of quality, it is high time we have these field workers produce for us and facilitate quality production,” she said.
In addition, the Business Botswana Agriculture Sector chairperson, Gaothobogwe Radikwata suggested government extension offices could also play a part in this regard noting that a lot needs to be done at a low level when it comes to farming. “BUAN graduates are not easily accessible as they come at a cost and if there were enough agricultural extension workers this will definitely go a long way. The officers are usually limited as they do not have enough resources to reach farmers, especially small farmers,” she said.
Radikwata further said it would be efficient if each community can have a dedicated extension worker rather than in the current situation where the extension workers service more than five communities on limited resources. She also called on retailers to partner with local suppliers and share their requirements so that farmers will have that in mind going into production.
According to Radikwata, farmers are mostly clueless about the right channels of reaching out to retailers. “This will ensure that we produce the right quality at the right time and we are ready for the export market,” she said.
Touching on the gaps in farming, she said most farmers face challenges when it comes to financing and there is the unavailability of some resources needed like fertilisers and seeds. On his part, Agricultural Chamber of South Africa CEO, Theo Boshof said Batswana and South African farmers face mostly the same challenges, mainly dominated by lack of finance.
He said both countries need to exploit the value chain pointing out that shortening the value chain has effects. Farmers were also encouraged to keep in mind that they are producing for consumers who are smart, cautious, and need quality and safe products.
