13/06/2026
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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture (MoLA), held a field tour at Sebele for the demonstration of machinery that can assist in potato production through โOne Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative that aims to enhancing the potato value chain in Botswana. Showing the potato harvesting machinery to OCOP Technical Working Group (TWG) and farmers, Mr Olopeng Ralehika as the lead demonstrator, explained how the equipment works, and acknowledged the donation of the equipment from Japanese government. He appreciated the Japan people for the donation of the harvesting machinery that will be critically useful during the potatoes harvesting season. Ralehika acknowledged that the equipment will drive the OCOP initiative effectively.
The machinery includes the Toyonoki Potato Harvester, used for harvesting, lifting, and sorting potatoes from the field into the storage. Amongst the equipment, there is also the electric fruit and vegetable dryer used for precision hot-air drying and preservation of agricultural produce. This machine can be used for making potatoes chips, dried mangoes and other types of agricultural produce. The fruit-dryer equipment is available for horticultural producers to hire it at a cost of P50 per day. During the tour, the team was shown the Smart Greenhouse facility, a polycarbonate structure equipped with automated components for seed multiplication and nursery management for potato seedlings. The green house has so far yielded produce for the past four seasons, having been used to grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes.
Cluster or syndicate potato farmers are encouraged to utilize the equipment during harvesting period, with consideration being given to ensuring small-scale farmers are included in the use of the potato harvesting machinery.
