Botswana: Farmers Vdc to Strategise for Projects

Serowe — Farmer's committee and the Village Development Committee (VDC) must come up with ideas and strategise on available pieces of land for projects.

This was shared by Member of Parliament for Serowe North, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe, who said the move would help the community generate money for themselves and contribute in employment creation.

He said some of the key projects were the resuscitation of the milk processing plant in the area.

The project would greatly contribute to the farming industry as the area will experience growth in the number of dairy cattle.

Mr Mathoothe said for Serowe to be a livestock marketing concentration centre, such would motivate, attract farmers in the village and across the country at large, give them a platform to showcase, auction and sell their livestock to national and international market.

He encouraged the VDC to look into the four hectors piece of land in Semane ward and see if they will avail it for a purpose like this for income purposes.

He said the good thing is that the project only requires a two hector land which will leave them with two hectors for projects.

Updating on Constituency Community Projects funds used on borehole drilling for fiels/lands, he said a 15 cubic borehole was drilled in Khumanego lands, 10 cubic in Taukome lands, 4.5 cubic in Botepetepe lands, but failed at Palamaokue because of inadequate and poor water quality.

He advised Khumanego and Palamaokue farmer's committee to consult council on how to acquire a license to harvesting paving stones in their area.

The stones were being exploited by outsiders, adding if the committee was in control they would monitor its over-exploitation and harvested the stone themselves to diversity the committee's revenue.

Mr Mathoothe said some brigade land will be assessed to establish how best to use it; whether or not it be allocated to completing students for start-up farming projects.

He said Botalaote VDC has also asked for 20 hector land for poultry projects.

Such projects, he said, if properly implemented would create employment, money for VDC to start more projects and eventually develop the village with ease.

In his remarks, Kgosi Moakofi Moakofi commended the MP for developmental progress in the area and hoped their implementation would take away youth from the streets and give them a purpose in life.

Nationally he decried alcohol and drugs abuse among the youth.

VDC chairperson, Mr Samuel Nkoborwane, said projects were mostly delayed by relevant departments being slow in doing their part to ensure progress, citing delays caused by lack of water.

He said ongoing projects were at an advanced stage in Kgope and Konyana wards which were left with finishing touches.

He said local contractors complained of escalated costs of projects, making them run at a loss.

BOPA

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