9th September 2015
Supporting Botswana’s Horticultural Industry and Championing Economic Diversification
GABORONE – A focus on supporting the growth and development of Botswana’s Horticultural industry continues to be on the agenda for Botswana Development Corporation (BDC). The Corporation continues to seek avenues with a view to proactively champion growth of the sector. This came to the fore during the 2015 instalment of the Botswana Horticultural Council (BHC) conference.
Held from the 9th to the 10th of September 2015 in Maun, the annual engagement attracted 250 farmer delegates from 10 district associations. The perfect platform to discuss matters pertinent to the success of Botswana’s horticulture industry, the conference was aligned to BHC’s mandate to promote commercialisation and competitiveness of Botswana’s horticultural industry.
Said BDC Managing Director, Mr. Bashi Gaetsaloe, “As BDC, our mandate remains clear. We strive to promote and facilitate the economic development of Botswana by pioneering new industries and unlocking value in existing industries.Agriculture remains one of those sectors where we believe Botswana can and must develop new capabilities to boost productions and achieve a measure of food self-sufficiency.”
“In this regard, our goals are very much aligned to those of BHC, and we believe that together we can promote local growers and unlock value in the horticulture industry.”
In a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Agriculture through BHC, BDC’s Agribusiness Division in 2008 created the Botswana Horticulture Market (BHM) whose main objective is to provide a platform or place for local horticultural farmers to sell their produce. The company operates in Gaborone and the market is operated on a combined commission and wholesale system. It is the largest of its kind in Botswana and has the capacity for 3,600 tonnes of produce.
BHC is a non-profit organisation that relies on generous sponsors to maintain its activities. Some of the objectives of the recently held conference driven included: leadership in advocacy, adoption of effective and efficient management practices, and influencing technology adoption. In addition, conformity to market needs was explored by stakeholders in attendance.
“Despite such challenges as drought and climate change, innovation and technological advancement mean that there is room to strengthen our outputs and support our local industry practitioners. We need to make a concerted effort to grow this industry together, and platforms such as this are one way of making strides towards that goal” concluded Gaetsaloe.
BDC is actively engaging stakeholders in the sector to build comprehensive and commercially driven solutions to farming in Botswana.
End of Press Release.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
ABOUT BDC
Botswana Development Corporation Limited, or ‘BDC,’ is the country’s main agency for commercial and industrial development. Established in 1970, the organisation is 100% owned by the Government of Botswana. Its primary mandate is to work towards assisting in the establishment and development of commercially viable businesses in Botswana.
BDC does this through a number of different platforms and channels. Amongst these are the provision of financial assistance to investors with commercially viable projects; supporting of projects that generate sustainable employment for Batswana and add to the skills of the local workforce; and encouraging citizen participation in business ventures.
BDC supports the development of viable businesses that perform one or more of the following functions:
•Pioneer new industries
•Unlock value in existing industries
•Stimulate private sector growth and linkages
•Drive diversification and exports
•Create significant employment
•Generate wealth from outside the country
In the short term, BDC is looking to Invest in un-tapped and under-invested sectors such as Energy, Innovation and Technology as well as Agriculture locally. In the Medium to long-term, BDC will look into Cross-border financing of viable projects regionally.
Throughout, BDC intends to promote best practices in business, governance and environmental standards in the funds or companies they choose to invest in. BDC Invests in commercially viable projects in all sectors of the economy except large-scale mining. The types of businesses owned by the Corporation include: Industry/Manufacturing; Agriculture; Services; and Property.