Africa: Botswana project breaks ground for two new greenhouses

Got Produce? Botswana – a commercial scale agriculture operation designed to increase sustainable food production in the region – broke ground on Monday this week, for two greenhouses, one north of the capital city, Gaborone, and the other in Maun. Botswana imports up to 80% of its fresh produce depending on the season – resulting in high prices from transportation and challenges with quality and freshness.

The groundbreaking news was made possible by Accite Holdings Pty Ltd an investment company that has led the effort to bring the California-based Got Produce? Franchising Inc. to Botswana. Accite Holdings holds the master franchise for the SADC region.

The Got Produce? concept is set to revolutionize agriculture in Botswana as the turnkey greenhouses are designed specially for the hot, dry Botswana climate. Hydroponic growing technology will allow farmers to grow vegetables year-round using only two percent of the water needed for irrigated ground-based farming.

As a result, Got Produce? will grow fresh produce closer to the consumer, increasing freshness while reducing production cost. Got Produce? is set to grow more than 300 tonnes of Grade-1 vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, herbs and chilies, for the Botswana domestic market in 2014.

Accite Holdings and Got Produce Botswana were founded by American entrepreneur and former Accenture Managing Director Michelle Adelman together with African business partners Herbert Chadehumbe and Bashi Gaetsaloe.

The greenhouses in north Gaborone and Maun will begin operation on 15 December 2013 with the first lettuce crops expected in late January 2014.

For more information:
Got Produce Botswana
www.gotproduce.co.bw
info@gotproduce.co.bw