Chairperson,
Mr. President,
Governors and distinguished delegates,

It is a great honour for me to address this Governing Council at its 35th Session on behalf of the Government of Botswana. The relationship between Botswana and IFAD started in the early 1980s, when IFAD assisted us in financing our then Arable Lands Development Programme. The Programme contributed in no small measure towards improving the livelihoods of our rural population, especially the resource-poor farmers, by providing them with both animal draft power and animal drawn implements to enhance their productivity.

Chairperson,

There is no doubt that IFAD has assisted many of us in addressing the issue of food security over the years. However, it is time for self-introspection with a view to reform IFAD in light of new challenges facing the small-scale farmers.  IFAD should assist this constituency of the farming families, to be more productive and efficient. In other words, it should develop a rigorous training programme that will take these farmers to the next level. The agricultural sector anchors many of our economies, hence the need to invest more resources into it.

Botswana is proud to share with fellow delegates that over the past three decades substantial amount of capital was used to fund a number of agricultural programmes. These were aimed at improving performance of the arable sub-sector, whose contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declining since independence.  These interventions have borne fruit in the form of an  improved food security situation in the country.

Chairperson,

I would like to plead with fellow Council members that to improve the performance of the sector, IFAD has to recognize all the categories of farmers and the role they play in growing the sector. We also need to address the shortcomings of our extension system, especially the storage and marketing of farm produce. IFAD should facilitate us to share success stories. Pursuant to our goal of attaining food security, we continue to introduce new interventions, which are responsive to the farmers’ needs. In this regard, in 2008, the Government of Botswana introduced the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) to address challenges facing arable farmers and the inherent low productivity of the arable sub-sector. Its primary objectives are:

• Increase grain production
• Promote food security at household and national levels
• Commercialize agriculture through mechanisation
• Facilitate access to farm inputs and credit and
• Improve extension outreach
• You will agree with me that these noble efforts need IFAD support.

I am happy that IFAD has agreed to partner with us in establishing Agricultural Service Centres, which will assist arable farmers to acquire requisite inputs and draught power to undertake tillage operations. The Agricultural Services Support Project, as small as it may look to many, will make an impact in improving the productivity of the rain-fed arable sub-sector. These, will in-turn create employment and improve rural incomes. It is these humble beginnings that produce greater things in life.

Chairperson,

we have to apply ourselves even more, given the astronomical rate of mouths we have to feed. Once more I wish to express my delegation’s appreciation for the opportunity to interact and share with you our challenges and expectations.

I thank you for your attention

Rome 22 February 2012