MAHALAPYE - Some Batswana are not taking advantage of programmes like ALDEP phase three and the Livestock Management Infrastructure Development (LIMID).
This emerged during kgotla meetings addressed by Assistant Minister of Agriculture Mr Olifant Mfa, at Shakwe and Taupye villages.
Some residents said failure to utilise government schemes is due to lack of proper information and guidance.
Unavailability of water and unhelpful officers are other factors that discourage them from taking full advantage of the schemes.They said if the anomaly is not corrected, ALDEP will fail like its predecessors Shakwe and Taupye extension offices have received 64 and 10 applications respectively since the re-introduction of the schemes.
In his address ,the minister asked residents to consult agriculture extension workers to learn more about government agricultural schemes.
He also told residents that the success of ALDEP and LIMID is dependent of them taking full advantage of such schemes.
Mr Mfa also urged residents not to depend on the drought relief programmes, which are not sustainable and short term.
I have realised that Batswana are more interested in drought relief programmes but these are not sustainable. In the long run these would be no more and you will have nothing to depend on.
It is better that you utilise ALDEP and LIMID schemes as they are long term and sustainable, said Mr Mfa.
The minister challenged Batswana to revive the spirit of self-reliance and work the land to achieve food security.
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