Botswana Engages private agriculturists

Assistant Minster of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao, is aware
of the general shortage of agricultural extension workers including the
Nata-Gweta constituency.
Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Molao said the problem was
not unique to the Nata-Gweta constituency because it was presently
unaffordable for government to have staff in all the extension areas in
the country.
However, he said to counter the shortage, his ministry had re-
organised its services so that extension areas without officers were
serviced by officers from other stations.
He further said the ministry had also embarked on an initiative to
engage private agriculturalists to provide extension services.
The assistant minister added that the services were to be paid partly
from savings made on overtime expenditure, which had been
substantial for the ministry.
He said Nata-Gweta constituency stands to benefit from such an
initiative.
Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the minister if he was
aware that there was shortage of agricultural demonstrators and
veterinary officers in the Nata-Gweta constituency.