Progress Summary: Agricultural Empowerment and Cluster Development Activities Since October 2024 to date.

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Prepared by: Elfas Mcloud Shangwa Zadzagomo (Hunter)

Introduction


 In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), supporting the achievement of Botswana's vision 2036, and 13 (Climate Action)—and guided by principles of climate resilience, sustainable land management, regenerative agriculture, and agroecology, Hunter, working closely with his team, has led a series of impactful agricultural interventions since October 2024. These initiatives have been undertaken under the institutional leadership of Hunter’s Global Network (HGN), Farmer’s Pride International (FPI), Uphopia farms, and through strategic collaborations with national and international partners.

1. Capacity-Building Workshops and Trainings
Since October 2024, a total of 10 intensive agricultural workshops have been successfully conducted, focusing on Potato farming and Moringa farming—two highly strategic and profitable crops for the Africa. These workshops were held in key agricultural centers within Botswana and across the SADC region, including:

  • Francistown, Serowe, Gaborone, and Ghanzi (Botswana)

Each training session was structured to promote the use of modern, climate-smart practices, organic certification principles, and value chain participation through agro-processing and export readiness.

2. Farmer Outreach and Training Impact
Through these workshops and mentorship programs, over 500 farmers have been formally trained in Moringa production to date. This brings the total number of farmers trained and impacted through Hunter’s network to over 10,000 across Botswana.

Special attention has been given to empowering women and young people as key drivers of Africa’s agricultural renaissance, ensuring inclusivity and long-term sustainability within rural and urban agricultural ecosystems.

3. Cluster Development and Farmer Mobilization
Working collaboratively, Hunter and his team have initiated and established several Agriculture-Based Clusters (ABCs), both in Botswana and across borders. These clusters are community-centric and value chain-aligned, bringing together:

  • Smallholder and emerging farmers
  • Agro-processors and industrial partners
  • Financial institutions and microcredit groups
  • Exporters and off-takers
  • Equipment suppliers and input providers

Each cluster was formed to foster backward and forward linkages, leverage economies of scale, and promote structured participation in national and international markets. The clusters further serve as hubs for localized innovation, skills transfer, and agri-business development.

4. Cross-Border Engagement and Regional Expansion
Under Hunter’s visionary leadership, the team has expanded operations and training programs into Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa. These cross-border initiatives have resulted in:

  • Procurement of organic Moringa seed from certified producers
  • Export facilitation partnerships with buyers from Germany and South Africa
  • Training tours and agro-processing model adoption across SADC
  • Increased collaboration between farmer cooperatives and private sector actors

This regional integration ensures scalability and regional competitiveness of the agricultural clusters supported by FPI and HGN.

5. Institutional Strengthening and Strategic Influence
The work of Hunter and his team has positioned Farmer’s Pride International and Hunter’s Global Network as apex institutions driving Africa’s agricultural transformation. Their approach blends:

  • Community empowerment
  • Climate-smart agriculture
  • Export-driven production models
  • Cluster-based agro-industrial strategies

Together, these tools are delivering tangible impact while reinforcing policy advocacy, private sector collaboration, and localized economic development.

Conclusion and Future Outlook
The post-October 2024 period has been marked by bold action, strategic collaborations, and high-impact implementation. Working with a committed team, Hunter has proven that the future of African agriculture lies in empowered clusters, smart farming, and sustainable export value chains. The broader vision of recruiting and supporting 5 million African agro-entrepreneurs within 5 years continues to guide all programming.

Going forward, more workshops, farmer mobilizations, infrastructure development, and strategic partnerships are anticipated as part of the Rural and Urban Agriculture Innovative Production Program (RUAIPP) and the broader continent-wide transformation agenda.

For more information or to partner with us:
Hunter – Executive President
Hunter’s Global Network PTY LTD.
Plot: 12996, Mine Houses, Monarch, Francistown, Botswana
E-mails:



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