SEZA constructs new silos in Pandamatenga
Special Economic Zones Authority ( SEZA) has commenced constructions of new silos at the Pandamatenga meant to boost agroproduction ahead of the full development of the Pandamatenga Special Economic Zone ( SEZ). The new silos have an overall storage capacity 60,000 metric tonnes.
“The steel grain silos are meant to facilitate increased agro- production by augmenting the limited capacity of the existing 30,000 metric tonne silos. “We expect the project to be completed by August 2021,” said SEZA Chief Executive Officer, Lonely Mogara. Pandamatenga is the hub of arable agriculture, with about 136,900 hectares set aside for agroproduction - 84,500ha reserved for commercial production and 12, 400ha for subsistence production.
According to Mogara targeted crops include cereals like maize, sorghum, millet, wheat and barley; legumes like beans, chickpeas, groundnuts; oil seeds as well as fruits and vegetables. In addition, 40 000ha has been reserved for the Zambezi Integrated AgroCommercial Development Project ( ZIACDP). This agro- production area, together with the recently acquired 107ha for agro- processing, will be developed as the Pandamatenga SEZ.
Mogara said ZIACDP project will use water from the Chobe- Zambezi rivers for irrigation of a land area measuring about 25 000ha, pumped through a 104km water pipeline to the site. “This will ensure agro- production all year round throughout the seasons,” he said. Mogara further revealed that tender evaluation for master planning of the 107ha agro- production zone has been completed and an award is expected to be made by mid- December while funds for master planning and detailed designs have also been approved. “We will form a project reference group and task it with facilitating the master planning process. Further to this, through consultations with other stakeholders like the Chobe Land Board and existing farmers, a Zone Management Company will be formed and tasked with management of the Pandamatenga SEZ,” said Mogara.
Mogara added that the Pandamatenga SEZ will create employment and boost food production, which will reduce the country’s high food import bill. “The Pandamatenga SEZs will help us reinvigorate agriculture, which is a key sector that will facilitate employment creation, import substitution and transformation of Botswana’s economy into high income status,” he said.