Facing Drought- Africa Embraces Hydroponics

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Dec. 8, 2015 - PRLog -- Got Produce?® announced today a new joint venture partnership for flagship training facility in Botswana.  The new venture is between the US based company and Botswana partners SmartCrest Investments, and Moleko Investment Holdings.  It will do business under the name Got Produce?® Botswana and will serve as working demonstration and training facility for hydroponic production, harvest and post handling practices.

Approximately the size of Texas or France, Botswana has 2M people, scarce arable terrain, and is land-locked.  Facing severe drought, homes and business often go without water up to  3-4 days per week.  Lack of rainfall, fluctuating temperatures and increased demand for food have all contributed to the current conditions which make the future of farming unpredictable.

South East District Horticultural Officer Mr Maphorisa,  explains that global warming “dictates a change in crop production methods in order to produce continuously” and that “Production structures such as tunnels and green houses would help abate the effects of climate ensuring continuous production.”

The Got Produce? ®  systems allow utilization of very little  water using new hydroponic techniques and turn-key control systems., Deputy Director for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Barutwa Thebenala, voiced his support saying  “These production system will contribute to food security in Botswana, and will also diversify the economy and contribute to the growth of horticultural sector.”

There is a great need for the Got Produce?®  hydroponic system in Botswana. Horticulture potential in Botswana remains largely untapped with Botswana importing almost 80% of vegetables from neighboring countries explains Gabriel Rantao, managing partner of SmartCrest Investments and current farmer. He adds, “We are very excited to be at the forefront of bridging the food security gap with Got Produce?® model. We want to carry out intensive and high turnover production, while providing employment opportunities for local community.”

Traditional farming methods are not an option for everyone.  Climate, water, terrain and financial resources can be roadblocks to market entry.  Got Produce?® solves this problem through its patented hydroponic greenhouse, which has zero carbon footprint.  “We do more with less – less land required, less water is needed while producing four times the output.  These are the overwhelming facts that make our business case so easy,” added Deborah Walliser, Founder and CEO of Got Produce? Franchising.  These turn-key greenhouses empower the local communities to take control economically and have crops ready for market within weeks – something they never thought possible.

This is not the first time, this technology has been brought to Botswana. Got Produce?® erected prior greenhouses in Gaborone and Maun in 2013 in order to bring hydroponic farming opportunities to the country, however, current owners refused to fulfill their contract.  By failing in their contract, they denied many up and coming farmers a chance to partake in hydroponic operations and greatly diminished the overall growing capacity of Botswana. Inventor of the technology, Walliser sees the new joint venture project as a way to make this technology and opportunity available to all farmers in Botswana.  Several top growers have already been trained and are ready to embrace the new opportunity. New joint venture partner Kelly Kewagamang confirms that this new project will “be used as a corporate social investment by serving as a demonstration and training facility on good horticultural practices to the struggling as well as the aspiring horticultural producers.”

Other local business are taking part and excited about the new opportunities and advance technology.  Daphney Moloi, a Local Enterprise Authority Business Consultant in the South East District, states “it can make a very positive impact to our economy at large.”

In addition to hydroponics, the facility will offer educational seminars on food safety and farm management. For those wanting a greenhouse of their own, franchise opportunities are still available in Botswana and throuought Africa.

Got Produce? ® is a US based company providing patented hydroponic greenhouse solutions to developing countries and communities worldwide.  The disruptive agriculture solution boasts production levels far above traditional farming (when compared using the same square footage) while using only a fraction of the water.  Got Produce? ® was incorporated in 2010 and is run by hydroponic expert Deborah Walliser.