Selebi-Phikwe Citrus Project On Track

February 8, 2022 Admin

The Selebi-Phikwe Citrus Project, which kicked off with the planting of about 70,000 citrus trees, is on track to meet its target. The produce from the farm is expected to be ready for export by 2024.

Selebi Phikwe Citrus will be one of the largest consolidated citrus developments in southern Africa. It is located near Selebi-Phikwe in the Central District, Botswana. Intended as a flagship horticultural project for the country, it will provide a source of employment for up to 1500 people (permanent and seasonal) when fully operational. In addition, it will provide indirect benefits to the local economy such as increased economic activity and food supply.

The production target of the project is to grow citrus fruits such as the Star Ruby, Premium Mandarins, Eureka Lemons and Valencia Oranges on 800ha. The remaining 400ha will be used to grow a variety of other fruits... Share on X

It is estimated that 70% of the produce will be exported overseas to markets such as the United States of America, Canada, UK, Europe as well as the Middle East, Asia, China and Japan. A small percentage of the remaining produce will be sold to the local agro-processing industry while the rest will be sold for consumption to the local market and the SADC region.

The official groundbreaking of the project was done by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr. Masisi and the First Lady, Neo Masisi.

First lady, Jane Neo Masisi, planting the first Valencia tree on Selebi Phikwe Citrus

This project has an investment value of P500 million and it continues to be a flagship project in the SPEDU Region. It currently employs around 228 workers.

To date, a total of 222 400 citrus fruit trees have been planted on 310 hectares... Share on X

The 800ha Phase 1 is expected to be completed by June 2022. The project occupies 1 500ha land of Mannaesi Farm, which belongs to Mmadinare Multipurpose Cooperative Society. Seventy percent of production is targeted for export.

The farm water needs are met by a 10 kilometre pipeline which runs from the water utilities plant near Selebi-Phikwe. All sorts of challenges came up during the construction of the line: If it wasn’t rain pouring down and flooding the trenches that were dug, It was skeletons that were uncovered along the pipeline route.

A skeleton was uncovered while digging a trench for the water pipes. The skeleton, from the roughly 400 year old grave, is currently in Gaborone at the University of Botswana where studies are being done to determine its origins… Share on X

After the research is done, the bones will be reburied close to their original resting place and clearly marked, hopefully not to be disturbed again. The remains are said to be the oldest complete skeleton uncovered in Botswana to date, so this find is of particular significance to the country.