Lack of roads and power in agricultural areas hamper food production

Lack of basic infrastructure and accessibility to farm lands across the country are among the most serious challenges that hamper food production and maximising of profits by farmers. Although some farms are situated in fertile land, their production is limited due to numerous factors which lead to farmers incurring great losses from ploughing to harvesting time. Such challenges include poor roads, which lead to the farm lands, produce getting damaged while being transported to the market and at times the roads are impassable especially during the rainy season. Member of Parliament for Maun East, Goretetse Kekgonegile asked the Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Karabo Gare if he is aware that lack of roads and accessibility to electricity in cattle posts, ploughing fields and farms contribute to low food production in the country.

He also asked if the Ministry plans to change this, it must state the target in terms of district coverage by 2023; and if such plans include the Haenaveld farms. Gare said his ministry is aware that lack of roads and accessibility to electricity in agricultural areas, cattle posts, arable fields and farms, negatively affect agricultural productivity in the country. He said in recognition of this challenge, the Agriculture Infrastructure Development Initiative was developed detailing on how agricultural production areas can be serviced with roads and electricity amongst others.

“However, the implementation of this initiative has been slow and of low magnitude owing to budget constraints,” Gare said. Gare said there are few areas where provision of this infrastructure has progressed.

“Although in principle we have the plan per production areas, it does not help target in terms of district coverage by 2023 due to budget constraints”. He said Haenaveld is unfortunately not in the current plan but will be considered in future.