PANDAMATENGA GRAIN SILOS PROJECT BEHIND SCHEDULE AS GLOBAL GRAIN CRUNCH SETS IN

The Pandamatenga grain Silos project is behind schedule due to delays in progress by the multiple COVID-19 lockdowns. The Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Trade and Industry, Malebogo Morakaladi told the Public Accounts Committee yesterday that the project is 69% complete, but that it could have progressed a bit further than it is, were it not for the pandemic. She noted that some of the silos were imported from overseas while some are still currently on their way to the country. Global grain supply has been negatively affected by the Russia – Ukraine war as the two nation are the biggest producers of wheat, and fertilizer needed in farming. This has led to a reduction in global production in general pushing up prices of other grains along with wheat. Botswana therefore needs to stock up on local grains to ensure food security in an increasingly unstable grain commodity market.