20 Aug 2014

Botswana and Lesotho on Tuesday, August 19, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in agricultural projects. 

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Christian De Graaff signed on behalf of Botswana while his counterpart from Lesotho, Mr Litsoane Litsoane represented his country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr De Graaff said there was a lot that Lesotho could learn from Botswana such as the operations of Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), an abattoir that was set up to offer subsistence farmers a livelihood and sold to the European markets.

Mr De Graaff said another area was ISPAAD which had increased food production since its introduction. Under ISPAAD, subsistence farmers were given 100 per cent subsidy while emerging farmers were given 25 to 35 per cent subsidy while commercial farmers were given 25 per cent.

Mr De Graaff also noted that Botswana produced the Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine through the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI). For his part, Mr Litsoane said the two countries had enjoyed a cordial relationship and that the MoU was part of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC).

The partnership, he said, addressed areas of cooperation such as capacity building on food standards and livestock improvement through artificial insemination.

He said through the memorandum, the aspirations of the two countries could be realised and that it would create a conducive environment for investors in the agriculture business to flourish. Mr Litsoane said their efforts must be geared towards improving the livelihood of the rural population. ENDS