Farmers advised to show commitment
Dailynews - Gaborone,BotswanaThe new programme called Integrated Support for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD) replaces ALDEP III, which has been phased out, ...
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Mooka assures residents
Gaborone, Botswana
He also informed residents that the Ministry of Agriculture was reviewing ALDEP III so that more Batswana could benefit from the programme. ...
He also informed residents that the Ministry of Agriculture was reviewing ALDEP III so that more Batswana could benefit from the programme. ...
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Locusts invade Tubu, surroundings
Image via WikipediaRepublic of Botswana - Gaborone, BotswanaOn other issues Mr Galekgorwe said since the commencement of Arable Land Development Programme April last year, his office has received 1127 applicants for ...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Botswana can feed itself
Mmegi Online writes, "Currently, the world is experiencing its worst food crises. Shortages are hitting poor households the hardest.
Oil prices are at their highest levels ever, mainly because of speculators who dominate global futures markets and the so-called war on terror.
The food crisis is spurred on by shrinking supplies from producer countries, which want to satisfy their domestic markets. Net importers like Botswana often have good agricultural plans but are let down by inadequate execution. For example we can recall the millions put in the National Master plan for the Arable Agriculture and Dairy Farming (NAMPAAD), SLOCA, the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) or ALDEP, and still the country cannot feed its people.
Someone once commented that the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) had the most educated personnel in the civil service and yet agriculture is poorly driven.
Our belief is that since the country is blessed with natural resources like land and underground water, therefore agriculture at both domestic and commercial levels could be revived. Government should start encouraging households to utilise that land they live on by growing vegetables.
There is really no need for families to spend money on products like tomatoes, cabbage, onions, spinach or green peas when the education system teaches children to grow them at primary and secondary schools."
Oil prices are at their highest levels ever, mainly because of speculators who dominate global futures markets and the so-called war on terror.
The food crisis is spurred on by shrinking supplies from producer countries, which want to satisfy their domestic markets. Net importers like Botswana often have good agricultural plans but are let down by inadequate execution. For example we can recall the millions put in the National Master plan for the Arable Agriculture and Dairy Farming (NAMPAAD), SLOCA, the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) or ALDEP, and still the country cannot feed its people.
Someone once commented that the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) had the most educated personnel in the civil service and yet agriculture is poorly driven.
Our belief is that since the country is blessed with natural resources like land and underground water, therefore agriculture at both domestic and commercial levels could be revived. Government should start encouraging households to utilise that land they live on by growing vegetables.
There is really no need for families to spend money on products like tomatoes, cabbage, onions, spinach or green peas when the education system teaches children to grow them at primary and secondary schools."
Sunday, May 11, 2008
131 teachers without houses
...The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Johnny Swartz, told Parliament that his ministry had assisted 33 farmers out of 83 who made down payments for the various packages under ALDEP III. ...
Include Basarwa views in RADP review
Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana
Mr Tsogwane said Basarwa living in villages were unable to access some programmes such as ALDEP because they could not afford the required down payment. ...
Mr Tsogwane said Basarwa living in villages were unable to access some programmes such as ALDEP because they could not afford the required down payment. ...
Daily News
PARLIAMENT - The implementation constraint of the Arable Land Development Programme (ALDEP) is the high and unaffordable down payment required under the ...
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Manpower constraints hinder patrols
Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana
FRANCISTOWN - Vice President Ian Khama says the Botswana Defence Force and the Botswana Police Service patrol the Botswana-Zimbabwe border in an effort to ...
See all stories on this topic
FRANCISTOWN - Vice President Ian Khama says the Botswana Defence Force and the Botswana Police Service patrol the Botswana-Zimbabwe border in an effort to ...
See all stories on this topic
ALDEP e ketefalela barui
Gaberones,Botswana
KANYE - Banni ba kgotla ya Kebuang mo Kanye ba ngongoregile ka lenaneo la ALDEP le le thusang balemi-barui ka didirisiwa tsa temo, ba re ba ketefelelwa ke ...
See all stories on this topic
KANYE - Banni ba kgotla ya Kebuang mo Kanye ba ngongoregile ka lenaneo la ALDEP le le thusang balemi-barui ka didirisiwa tsa temo, ba re ba ketefelelwa ke ...
See all stories on this topic
Lack of implementation worries legislators
Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana
About agriculture, Mr Mogami said ALDEP III will be useless if Batswana are not able to access it and cautioned against confusing the programme with income ...
See all stories on this topic
About agriculture, Mr Mogami said ALDEP III will be useless if Batswana are not able to access it and cautioned against confusing the programme with income ...
See all stories on this topic
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Arable Land Development Programme: Govt to reinstate ALDEP - Gaolathe
Arable Land Development Programme (ALDEP) is one of the government support programmes in Botswana. The current one is a revision of ALDEP I and II. ...
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Full Text SARDC Publications
ALDEP, Arable Land Development Programme. ARV, Anti-Retroviral. AU, African Union. BCWP, Botswana Caucus for Women in Politics ...
CBNRM Net: Arntzen, J. & K Chigadora, 2000, The impact of ...
Use of Arable Land Development Programme (ALDEP) packages in. the Kgalagadi north district (1997-1999). Hukuntsi Tshane Lokgwabe Lehututu Hunhukwe Kang ...
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Young Farmers Fund should be flexible
Republic of Botswana - Gaberones,Botswana
An official of the Ministry of Agriculture Mr George Maphane also encouraged Batswana to utilise the revised agricultural schemes such as ALDEP and SLOCA. ...
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Sunday, January 6, 2008
Mogo Block 4 residents in isolation ( 04 July, 2007)
MOGODITSHANE - Residents of Block 4 are uncertain as to whether they fall under Tsolamosese or Nkoyaphiri ward.
During a special meeting called by the MP for Mogoditshane, Mr Patrick Masimolole, the residents said they lived in isolation and that they did not know their headman, councillor or even village development committee (VDC) members.
Mr Johnson Kebalepile, one of the residents, said their residential plots indicated that they belonged to Nkoyaphiri ward but during the previous elections they voted at polling stations that did not fall under the same ward.
Thus, it now appears they fell under Tsolamosese ward.
Mr Kebalepile said as a result, residents did not know their councillor as there were no meetings held in their area.
He said the residents were not even invited to kgotla meetings at Tsolamosese. The residents had also waited a long time to be connected to the sewerage system. And, the Kweneng District Council did not empty their rubbish bins.
Mr Kebalepile said residents even thought of taking up their concerns to the Thamaga Sub Land Board since it was the one which allocated them plots in the 1980s.
We are just in isolation and so we appeal to you for help, he said. Ms Keitumetse Panda, another resident, said the residents only get to know of government schemes through the news media.
Ms Panda said they did not know where to go for more information on schemes such as ALDEP and youth grants which could help improve their lives.
Ms Panda also complained of a thick bush in the area which harboured criminals and had been turned into a dumping site for all sorts of rubbish Mr Godiraone Letsholo said children walked long distances to Mogoditshane Primary School and cross the main road at risk of accidents. He appealed for a primary school in Block 4.
For her part, Ms Margaret Nyepesi, said police officers never patrolled the area and did not respond to clarion calls.
However an officer representing Mogoditshane Police, said police were doing their best to fight crime but there was shortage of personnel and resources as they cover a wide area ranging from Kopong, Metsimotlhabe, Gabane, Mogoditshane, Mantsie, Block 9, Mmopane and Tsolamosese.
Responding to some of their concerns, Mr Masimolole said police were doing their best to fight crime but they could only be effective with the help of the community.
Mr Masimolole said Block 4 was made part of Tsolamosese in 2001 following a demlimitation commission.
He advised them to consult with the Tsolamosese headman and to take part in VDC activities.
On other issues, Mr Masimolole told residents that prepaid electricity metres were about to be installed in Mogoditshane.
Regarding late delivery of food baskets and expired foods , he said government would soon introduce food coupons to allow people a choice of what and where to buy.
Mr Masimolole said a senior secondary school was to be built in Mogoditshane. Anti retroviral drugs would soon be distributed at Nkoyaphiri Clinic.
During a special meeting called by the MP for Mogoditshane, Mr Patrick Masimolole, the residents said they lived in isolation and that they did not know their headman, councillor or even village development committee (VDC) members.
Mr Johnson Kebalepile, one of the residents, said their residential plots indicated that they belonged to Nkoyaphiri ward but during the previous elections they voted at polling stations that did not fall under the same ward.
Thus, it now appears they fell under Tsolamosese ward.
Mr Kebalepile said as a result, residents did not know their councillor as there were no meetings held in their area.
He said the residents were not even invited to kgotla meetings at Tsolamosese. The residents had also waited a long time to be connected to the sewerage system. And, the Kweneng District Council did not empty their rubbish bins.
Mr Kebalepile said residents even thought of taking up their concerns to the Thamaga Sub Land Board since it was the one which allocated them plots in the 1980s.
We are just in isolation and so we appeal to you for help, he said. Ms Keitumetse Panda, another resident, said the residents only get to know of government schemes through the news media.
Ms Panda said they did not know where to go for more information on schemes such as ALDEP and youth grants which could help improve their lives.
Ms Panda also complained of a thick bush in the area which harboured criminals and had been turned into a dumping site for all sorts of rubbish Mr Godiraone Letsholo said children walked long distances to Mogoditshane Primary School and cross the main road at risk of accidents. He appealed for a primary school in Block 4.
For her part, Ms Margaret Nyepesi, said police officers never patrolled the area and did not respond to clarion calls.
However an officer representing Mogoditshane Police, said police were doing their best to fight crime but there was shortage of personnel and resources as they cover a wide area ranging from Kopong, Metsimotlhabe, Gabane, Mogoditshane, Mantsie, Block 9, Mmopane and Tsolamosese.
Responding to some of their concerns, Mr Masimolole said police were doing their best to fight crime but they could only be effective with the help of the community.
Mr Masimolole said Block 4 was made part of Tsolamosese in 2001 following a demlimitation commission.
He advised them to consult with the Tsolamosese headman and to take part in VDC activities.
On other issues, Mr Masimolole told residents that prepaid electricity metres were about to be installed in Mogoditshane.
Regarding late delivery of food baskets and expired foods , he said government would soon introduce food coupons to allow people a choice of what and where to buy.
Mr Masimolole said a senior secondary school was to be built in Mogoditshane. Anti retroviral drugs would soon be distributed at Nkoyaphiri Clinic.
Agriculture can contribute more ( 04 July, 2007)
MAHALAPYE - Agriculture needs to be developed if it is to contribute more than it presently do to Botswanas economic growth, the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Olifant Mfa, said.
Addressing a kgotla meeting at Pallaroad near Mahalapye on Friday, Mr Mfa urged arable farmers to adopt viable farming methods and to plant sunflower, vegetables and fruits instead of growing only traditional crops such as maize and sorghum.
Mr Mfa raised concern about the residents failure to use agricultural programmes, as evidenced by the fact that only one resident has applied for assistance through the new ALDEP programme.
He advised the youth to use the Young Farmers Fund, an investment window under the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency, to invest in income-generating projects, thus reducing unemployment.
To reduce rural-urban migration, he said government had come up with schemes that encourage people to gainfully engage in farming.
He explained that his ministry was in the process of controlling prices of stock feed and other agricultural products to, among others, restrain companies from hiking the prices unnecessarily.
The Chairman of the Farmers Committee, Mr Phang Gaorengwe, complained about impalas, which have destroyed the crops, saying the wildlife department should compensate the affected farmers.
Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, the MP for Mahalapye East, said she would invite the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism to a meeting with the residents regarding the impala problem.
Addressing a kgotla meeting at Pallaroad near Mahalapye on Friday, Mr Mfa urged arable farmers to adopt viable farming methods and to plant sunflower, vegetables and fruits instead of growing only traditional crops such as maize and sorghum.
Mr Mfa raised concern about the residents failure to use agricultural programmes, as evidenced by the fact that only one resident has applied for assistance through the new ALDEP programme.
He advised the youth to use the Young Farmers Fund, an investment window under the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency, to invest in income-generating projects, thus reducing unemployment.
To reduce rural-urban migration, he said government had come up with schemes that encourage people to gainfully engage in farming.
He explained that his ministry was in the process of controlling prices of stock feed and other agricultural products to, among others, restrain companies from hiking the prices unnecessarily.
The Chairman of the Farmers Committee, Mr Phang Gaorengwe, complained about impalas, which have destroyed the crops, saying the wildlife department should compensate the affected farmers.
Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, the MP for Mahalapye East, said she would invite the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism to a meeting with the residents regarding the impala problem.
The Arable Lands Development Programme (ALDEP)
The ALDEP was conceived in 1977 and has gone through several phases since then. It provides assistance to needy farmers who are capable of increasing production and household income, the prerequisites for eligibility being the number of cattle they own and their yearly income. The assistance packages provide the approved applicants with an 85-90 percent subsidy for fencing materials, water tanks, agricultural tools and inputs and cattle. These conditions have been conducive enough to attract a great number of citizens to be farmers, but only with minimal involvement in farming.
In the Gaborone area, the target was to reach 11,388 individuals, but to date only 5,484 farmers have been reached (48 percent). Packages received vary from a low of US$ 852 to US$ 4,326 per farmer (GoB,1999). The ALDEP has not been able to significantly improve the performance of urban and periurban farmers as they usually cultivate only small patches of land (GoB, 2000). At present, the ALDEP appears to be more of a welfare programme rather than a development programme.
In the Gaborone area, the target was to reach 11,388 individuals, but to date only 5,484 farmers have been reached (48 percent). Packages received vary from a low of US$ 852 to US$ 4,326 per farmer (GoB,1999). The ALDEP has not been able to significantly improve the performance of urban and periurban farmers as they usually cultivate only small patches of land (GoB, 2000). At present, the ALDEP appears to be more of a welfare programme rather than a development programme.
New ALDEP applications not allowed - Swartz ( 14 August, 2000)
NO NEW applications should be received for the Arable Land Development Programme (ALDEP), agriculture minister Johnie Swartz said in parliament last week.
Mr Swartz, who presented the ALDEP statement to parliament, said the processing of new applications should be halted with immediate effect.
He said funds up to the limit of P105 million be sought and paid in respect of applications for which down payments had been made. Applications that had been appraised but for which no down payment had been made be deferred.
He added that a comprehensive review of the programme be undertaken immediately.
He explained that ALDEP was introduced in 1982 to help small subsistence farmers increase their production of food grains. The first phase of the programme, which ended in 1992, was funded partly through a loan of US20 million obtained from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and partly by government.
The long-term objectives of the programme are to create employment opportunities for the rural population, raise rural incomes and improve household food security.
Since its inception, ALDEP has been reviewed several times to make it beneficial to the small farmers.
Mr Swartz said in November 1997, under the second phase of the programme, the guidelines were once again amended and expanded with a view to add more packages, increase the number of eligible farmers, make the programme more accessible to female applications by giving them lower contribution rates than their male counterparts and to accommodate remote area dwellers.
"This decision was taken, because at the time, there was a felt need to increase access to ALDEP packages to a wider range of farmers with the belief that this would facilitate wider adoption of improved technologies," he said.
During the first phase, emphasis was on the distribution of packages and the construction of houses for extension staff to the tune of P46 316 119.
Mr Swartz said the programme was popular but there were concerns. The first was the delay in the delivery of packages to farmers. This was acknowledged and could be attributed to slow delivery by suppliers due to lack of capacity. In addition, an increase in the number of applications over-stretched the extension staff and transport.
The second concern was the evidence of misuse of the programme, especially the cattle package for draught power. In some cases, cattle were not obtained for draught power but to increase the breeding stock of farmers.
Mr Swartz said following the 1997 review of the guidelines, there was a sudden flood of applications, which has rendered the programme costly and unsustainable in the long term.
"There is also growing concern that the programme does not seem to be making a significant impact on agricultural production," he said. "What seems to be happening is that the majority of the applicants are not getting the packages for productive purposes, but just because they are there at cheap prices." The total, National Development Plan 8 ALDEP budget is P65 million but expenditure at the end of April 2000 stood at P52 205 400.
Mr Swartz said P7 million was sub-warranted for the 2000/2001 financial year and has already been spent and only P6.8 million remains for the rest of the plan period. More than 10 000 packages were distributed during this period.
He said despite the almost exhausted allocation for the whole plan period, there is a huge backlog of applications held by agricultural offices countrywide. More continue to pour in daily.
The current situation follows: 2 285 applications waiting to be appraised; 14 645 others, with an estimated cost of P108 443 600, awaiting down payments; and the rest, for which down payments have been made, are 17 694 worth P102 221 800. More than P211 million is required to clear the backlog.
"I have expressed concern about the misuse of programme funds through misdirection of such funds towards purpose or projects for which they are not intended," Mr Swartz said. "I would like to take this opportunity to caution past and future beneficiaries against such practices as they contribute towards making our assistance programmes unsustainable." Mr Swartz added that the extension staff should ensure packages are put to productive use.
Mr Swartz, who presented the ALDEP statement to parliament, said the processing of new applications should be halted with immediate effect.
He said funds up to the limit of P105 million be sought and paid in respect of applications for which down payments had been made. Applications that had been appraised but for which no down payment had been made be deferred.
He added that a comprehensive review of the programme be undertaken immediately.
He explained that ALDEP was introduced in 1982 to help small subsistence farmers increase their production of food grains. The first phase of the programme, which ended in 1992, was funded partly through a loan of US20 million obtained from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and partly by government.
The long-term objectives of the programme are to create employment opportunities for the rural population, raise rural incomes and improve household food security.
Since its inception, ALDEP has been reviewed several times to make it beneficial to the small farmers.
Mr Swartz said in November 1997, under the second phase of the programme, the guidelines were once again amended and expanded with a view to add more packages, increase the number of eligible farmers, make the programme more accessible to female applications by giving them lower contribution rates than their male counterparts and to accommodate remote area dwellers.
"This decision was taken, because at the time, there was a felt need to increase access to ALDEP packages to a wider range of farmers with the belief that this would facilitate wider adoption of improved technologies," he said.
During the first phase, emphasis was on the distribution of packages and the construction of houses for extension staff to the tune of P46 316 119.
Mr Swartz said the programme was popular but there were concerns. The first was the delay in the delivery of packages to farmers. This was acknowledged and could be attributed to slow delivery by suppliers due to lack of capacity. In addition, an increase in the number of applications over-stretched the extension staff and transport.
The second concern was the evidence of misuse of the programme, especially the cattle package for draught power. In some cases, cattle were not obtained for draught power but to increase the breeding stock of farmers.
Mr Swartz said following the 1997 review of the guidelines, there was a sudden flood of applications, which has rendered the programme costly and unsustainable in the long term.
"There is also growing concern that the programme does not seem to be making a significant impact on agricultural production," he said. "What seems to be happening is that the majority of the applicants are not getting the packages for productive purposes, but just because they are there at cheap prices." The total, National Development Plan 8 ALDEP budget is P65 million but expenditure at the end of April 2000 stood at P52 205 400.
Mr Swartz said P7 million was sub-warranted for the 2000/2001 financial year and has already been spent and only P6.8 million remains for the rest of the plan period. More than 10 000 packages were distributed during this period.
He said despite the almost exhausted allocation for the whole plan period, there is a huge backlog of applications held by agricultural offices countrywide. More continue to pour in daily.
The current situation follows: 2 285 applications waiting to be appraised; 14 645 others, with an estimated cost of P108 443 600, awaiting down payments; and the rest, for which down payments have been made, are 17 694 worth P102 221 800. More than P211 million is required to clear the backlog.
"I have expressed concern about the misuse of programme funds through misdirection of such funds towards purpose or projects for which they are not intended," Mr Swartz said. "I would like to take this opportunity to caution past and future beneficiaries against such practices as they contribute towards making our assistance programmes unsustainable." Mr Swartz added that the extension staff should ensure packages are put to productive use.
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