Christian de Graaff

"BMC management and its board, I am not going to take the blame for the collapse of the abattoir because I acted accordingly."

"I wish to observe that there has been defamatory material published about me in the media, and hereby caution that like any other Botswana citizen, I have a right to protect my good reputation."

"The Task force has since presented its report to me. I have shared the report with Cabinet and have made a statement to Parliament."

"As a result of this, I do not consider it appropriate to discuss matters relating to BMC with the media."

"Farmers should consider diversifying their produce. As you produce you should understand that you are part of the value chain therefore you should consider producing more than grain, but also produce stock feed for the livestock industry. You could also do this by utilizing your failed crops and crop residues before they lose their nutritive content."

"The argument is that this will widen the financing base of your choices and, in turn, enable further development of the agricultural sub sector. Your views are very important and, therefore, my ministry has started discussions with the relevant authorities within government to explore the feasibilities."

"It is not by chance that this project is situated in Pandamatenga. It is because of the high potential benefits and returns that are envisaged."

"Through the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD), we have been able to triple production to 90 000 metric tones, but we should do more to reach self sufficiency."

"Yet farmers are not willing to part with land. For instance, in Pitsane at the Barolong Farms, only about half of the 30 000 hacters of farmland is being successfully used, yet most farmers are not willing to sell or lease the land to commercial farmers."

"Another problem we have is the mindset of punishing people who make a success."

"If someone is doing well and wants more land to farm, people will say, he already has enough land."

"But most land, even designated as commercial land is underused and those who are productive should be allowed to acquire as much more as possible so we can extend their success."

"As I introduced myself as Botswana’s Minister of Agriculture, President Obama said that we are a country which is blessed to have good leadership, a democratic culture and sound people-centred policies."

"As we left the other countries’ ministers were asking me why Botswana had been selected for special praise. It is just a sign that we have earned respect."

"In the Ghanzi district we used to take a long trek to Lobatse, some on foot, others on horseback in order to sell our cattle to the Botswana Meat Commission in Lobatse. The country now has a good network of tarred roads, and those time-consuming trips are now made with ease."

"The government is assisting with access to water in Pandamatenga, and more hectares of land will be brought under production there."

"We have a problem of the fruit and vegetable production in this country being of low quality and this is something we will need to work on."

"In the SADC region, we are rated ‘Number One’ in Africa on overall food production. Over the last five years there was an increase of 350 per cent, and, in the last financial year, there has been an increase of 572 per cent from 37 000 metric tonnes to over 200 000 metric tonnes."

"I cannot see why we cannot become self-sufficient in food security."

"All these investments have started to bear fruits because in 2013/14 horticulture production has grown to 46 000 metric tonnes which is about 5000 metric tonnes from the previous year."

"I am not taking the blame for the collapse of the BMC."

"Blame management and the Board, De Graaff ,GuardianSun (18 July 2013)"

"The workshop should give the delegates from the respective ministries of Agriculture, Civil Society, Education, Health and Finance and the private sector to address issues of malnutrition and agriculture and explore how to coordinate our efforts better and effectively deliver nutrition services where they are most needed."

"The key issue is to fight hunger and malnutrition through increasing the supply of affordable nutritious and safe food, improve incomes of the poor; while ensuring overall dietary diversity. Come up with recommendations for strengthening capacities across the various sectors dealing with agricultural issues of this nature."

"Various factors contributing to food and nutrition insecurity such as HIV/AIDS and gender issues should be included considering their link to nutritional conditions of the society."

"It gives particular gratification that the objectives of the workshop’s theme: ‘Building Capacity to Mainstream Nutrition in National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans in Africa’ facilitates in integrating nutrition as part of agricultural development in Southern Africa."