President Mokgweetsi Masisi, in a significant development last week, attended the inaugural harvest ceremony of the Selibe Phikwe Citrus project, marking a pivotal moment in Botswana’s agricultural landscape.
The Selibe Phikwe Citrus project, an ambitious initiative, encompasses over 800,000 citrus trees producing an array of fruits from lemons to mandarins, oranges, and more. The maiden harvest, focused on lemons, was poised to be handpicked, collected, loaded, and exported to Canada, symbolizing Botswana’s entry into the global citrus market.
Commending the stakeholders, notably the Mmadinare Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, for leasing 1500 hectares of land to the project, President Masisi emphasized the transformative potential of communal associations collaborating with investors, projecting the creation of over 1000 jobs.
Acknowledging governmental support, President Masisi underscored the critical role played by business support institutions and ministries such as Agriculture, Trade and Industry, and Entrepreneurship. These entities facilitated market access protocols and investor after-care services, facilitating Botswana’s citrus products’ entry into the markets.
In a bid to empower small-scale farmers, President Masisi urged them to tap into emerging opportunities linked to the Selibe Phikwe Citrus Farm, advocating for diversification into agro-processing. The president disclosed that the farm has been authorized to allocate 25% of its produce locally, gradually decreasing to 10% over five years. This move aims to bolster domestic production, thereby reducing reliance on citrus imports, which stood at 5,773 tonnes in 2022.
The Selibe Phikwe Citrus Project, hailed as Botswana’s inaugural citrus export venture and one of the largest consolidated projects in Southern Africa, is positioned to cater to global demands for fresh produce.
With over 300 current employees and forecasts to generate at least 1500 jobs when fully operational, the project prioritizes local employment, with only 12 foreigners among its workforce. Additionally, ten students from the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources are gaining practical experience through attachments.
Looking ahead, the project envisions further diversification into honey production, with potential yields of over eighty-nine tonnes, thus enhancing Botswana’s agricultural output and bolstering its position in the global market.
The Selibe Phikwe Citrus Project stands as a beacon of inclusive development, showcasing the synergy between government, private enterprise, and community stakeholders in driving economic growth and job creation in Botswana.