BUAN, Agrizor train tomato farmers
Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) has trained over 300 local farmers on tomato production and crop management techniques, in partnership with Agrizor.
The university signed the Memorundum of Understanding (MoU) with Agrizor. Through the MoU, the two institutions will collaborate on educating students and stakeholders, participate in community development to foster agribusiness investments as well as creating brand awareness and visibility for the two institutions.
Speaking during the training on Saturday, BUAN Vice Chancellor, Proffessor Jasper Rees said Agrizor brings technology into Botswana that will allow local farmers to do farming better. He said through the partnership, the university commits to empower graduates and farmers with high technology tools to do farming better. “We are working with the private sector to cultivate good entrepreneurship spirit with the private sector and develop entrepreneurs to do agribusiness. The partnership will ensure sustainability because we need to make sure that agriculture is a sustainable business.”
For his part, BUAN Incuhive Director, Dr Israel Legwaila highlighted that the university is committed to developing graduates into commercial farmers so they can contribute to building a food self-sufficient nation. He said the University is going to develop more projects under its Incuhive programme. “We currently have 36 incubates and we urge farmers to assist us by giving support to these incubates.”
He said the demand for food security during the COVID-19 pandemic has created pressure for the nation to produce food for itself.
“With regard to this, BUAN has embarked on developing partnerships to facilitate empowerment of entrepreneurs.”