Entrepreneurs explore Agro value chains
The first- ever professional and national Agro Product Processing Exhibition ( APPE) will take place tomorrow Saturday at Mountain View garden between Moshupa and Thamaga.
The event is about promoting agricultural value chain through entrepreneurship in order to assist farmers maximise profits, as well as to change the mindset of Batswana to start taking farming as a business rather than a hobby.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian, event organiser and founder Omphemetse Mogorosi said the event is primarily to explore agricultural value chains especially the sectors that have been left behind.
“We are hosting an Exhibition of value added agricultural products with a special expert workshop presentation from the Agric Research Centre from South Africa, who will be deliberating on potatoes and tomatoes production and its value chains,” Mogorosi said. He said Farmers Clan from Botswana, the host, will be presenting and demonstrating the treatment of lotlhaka, stover to feed animals, while Hydro- organic solutions will be deliberating on the Hydroponic system and Moks Vets will be presenting on the anti- microbial resistance. Exhibitors are expected to range from sub- sectors including, processed fruits, vegetable and grains to form a new product. The idea is the brainchild of three youths named Omphemetse Mogorosi, Oagufi Seakolo and Oabile Thibelang. Before that they were more involved in community service providing consultancy services to farmers on animal production, nutrition and health. “We have been even training some aspiring farmers like the YDF and the old farmers who need to understand common trends in farming.”