Mr. Chair, Mr. President, Distinguished Governors, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to congratulate Mr. Nwanze on your re-election as President of IFAD for the second term. 

First of all, I wish to send my condolences on behalf of the Government of Botswana and on my own behalf,  to the people and the Government of Brazil on the loss of 233 people in a night club in Southern Brazil when a building was set ablaze during a Pyrotechnical show on Sunday 27th January, 2013. My heartfelt  condolences go to the affected families’ victims and to the people of Brazil at large.

Mr. President, the Republic of Botswana supports IFAD’s continuing efforts to reduce rural poverty and promotion of food security.

The Government of Botswana supports the new joint Agricultural Services Support Project with IFAD as it promotes the use of effluent water for irrigation. Botswana as a semi-arid country is facing challenges of inadequate water for human consumption and irrigation. The Fund should also assist developing countries in responding to water scarcity through Water Harvesting Techniques which are suitable for smallholder farmers.

Mr. President, IFAD must seriously address the shortcomings faced by the extension workers, especially in terms of service delivery (transportation, training and communication).Although ASSP has come with the initiatives of improving extension delivery, this is not enough as the extension farmer ratio is still high. The Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD) which was introduced in 2008 to address the challenges facing farmers  is hampered by the shortage of extension workers.

Botswana as a developing country would like to continue partnership with the Fund as it addresses multiple and complex causes underlying rural poverty.

Thank you.