Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has pleaded with Batswana to reduce the high import bill by boosting local food production.
Mr Tsogwane urged Batswana to be united in efforts to increase agricultural production.
He was addressing Makalamabedi and
The COVID-19 pandemic with its challenges, he said, should be a wake-up call for all Batswana to ensure that food and other products were produced locally.
The vice president further urged Batswana to get financial assistance from institutions such as
"Let us not be dependent on LIMID programme, get funding from
He also advised Batswana to venture into animal feed production.
Mr Tsogwane was responding to Makalamabedi Village Developmment Committee chairperson Mr Letsogile Jane who had complained that
The vice president implored farmers to coexist with wild animals by devising ways of protecting farm produce from wild animals.
On other matters, the vice president urged Batswana to make a difference by making it their responsibility to ensure that COVID-19 was defeated.
"Inculcate self-discipline and guard your children's movements," he said.
Mr Tsogwane pointed out that COVID-19 cases as well as the death rate were increasing at an alarming rate to the point where the country's health care system was overwhelmed.
They were advised to adjust to doing businesses online.
He said more teachers would be recruited to cater for extra classes to ensure compliance to COVID-19 health protocols.
The vice president encouraged the public to prepare for participating in the forthcoming constitutional review consultations as well as the population census.
For her part the Minister of Wildlife, Tourism and Natural Resources Ms Philda Kereng said the aim was to revive the economy by promoting integrated farming, creating job opportunities and bringing development to the village level.
Ms Kereng said the ministry was working on a climate change policy to help farmers prepare for harsh climatic conditions.
She indicated that due to climatic changes, elephants were now roaming areas they had never been seen, resulting in damage to people's property.
As a result, compensation rates were under review, she said.
The minister explained that government's aim was to build an inclusive economy to enable people to generate income and sustain their families.
She said the intention was to strengthen and capacitate trusts with skills and facilitate timely financial support.
Source : BOPA
Copyright Botswana Daily News. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)., source
