NFTRC at the National Agricultural Show 2018

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NFTRC at the National Agricultural Show 2018

National  Food  Technology  Research  Centre  (NFTRC)  and  its  commercial  wing  National  Agro  Processing (NAPro) exhibited at the just ended National Agricultural Show in Gaborone that ran from the 20th-27thAugust 2018 in Gaborone.

The theme of the show was “Enabling Food Security Through Profitable Communal Farming Practices”.

During his keynote address Chief Executive Officer of QK Meats SA (PTY) LTD, Mr Peter Ivor Queally said from all the exhibits it is clear that farming knowledge is already in Botswana and what is left is for Batswana to transfer it to the greater nation.

QK Meats SA (PTY) LTD is one of the largest private owned Agri Business with extensive operations spread across 17 different countries in Africa, Europe and America.

Mr  Queally  said  as  an  incredible  natural  resource,  agriculture  is  not  only about primary production but is also about value addition. He shared that farmers must produce products that meet the markets need, simply what the consumers want and what they are willing to pay for.

He reminded the farmers to take farming seriously and not to be dependent on government, stating that government`s role is to govern or be a catalyst in  the  development  of  agriculture  but  not  to  make  things  happen  on  the ground.

For his part, Show Committee Chairperson Mr Matshego Gobuamang said the  nation  was  not  happy  that  most  of  the  livestock  exhibited  showcased imported  animals.  He said it was the nation’s desire to see farmers showcasing locally born and bred animals.

He called for potential sponsors stating that Debswana who has been one of the main sponsors over the years has pulled out from sponsoring the National  Agricultural  Show  to  focus  on  the  development  of  agriculture  by sponsoring the District Agricultural Shows.

He also announced that the next National Agricultural Show will be held on the 19th-15^th August 2019.

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security Mr Patrick Ralotsia welcomed the attendees to the 9^th National Agricultural Show since 2008. He said the show brings farmers together to exchange their farming skills through networking and benchmarking. He added that 2018 has been a difficult year for the farming community, particularly arable farmers who are dependent on rain, resulting in crops dying prematurely or being stunted.

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