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Take a look at our past....
The Rural Industries Promotions Company (RIPCO (B) was established in 1974 as a company limited by guarantee. It operated under the portfolio responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry now Trade and Industry and on 6th September 2002 it was transferred to the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology (MCST). RIPCO (B) has since been transferred to the new Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST) in October 2009 in line with public sector reform. The head office of RIPCO (B) is in Gaborone , the capital of Botswana .
In 1975, the company was given the mandate to establish and operate the Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) in Kanye as its main operational arm. The centre was set up in Kanye because the Paramount Chief of Bangwaketse, Kgosi Seepapitso IV has offered free land at the Ga Tsong Valley, for the establishment of the centre.
Since its establishment, RIPCO (B) has been involved in the development and dissemination of appropriate technologies geared towards improving the living standards of the people of Botswana .
RIPCO (B) was initially funded by Frederick Ebert Foundation (FEF) in Germany from 1974 to 1984. At the end of this period of support, Government of Botswana took over and provided annual subvention to the company in support of the research and development programme. Government support to RIPCO (B) currently stands at 90% of the budget while the balance of 10% is raised from the company’s internal operations.
In 1982, RIPCO (B) established the Pioneer Rural Industries Centre (PRICE) in Palapye in the Central District to provide an integrated agricultural service to the Central District through a “One Stop Service Centre for Agriculture”, in addition to a milling service and conference and training facilities. However, at present PRICE only provides milling and conference services. In 1997, RIPCO (B) established the Barolong Farms One Stop Service Centre for Agriculture (BF OSSCA) in Goodhope. The centre provides a wide range of services to the agricultural sector in Goodhope. The centre trades as BW OSSCA which brings the OSSCA projects in Palapye and Goodhope together.
In addition, the Rural Industries Promotions Company (Botswana) managed and implemented two special projects: the National Photovoltaic Rural Electrification Programme (NPVREP) and the Environmental Heritage Foundation of Botswana Trust (EHF).
Funded by Government of Botswana through the Energy Affairs Division from March 1997, NPVREP wound up business at the end of 2001. The programme was charged with the responsibility of providing photovoltaic electricity at affordable financial terms to rural households and institutions. At the close of the programme, 315 lighting systems had been put up nationwide.
The Environmental Heritage Foundation of Botswana Trust was funded by the Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development (DANCED) from 1996 to December 2001 to support community environmental conservation initiatives as designed and implemented by non-governmental organizations and community based organizations. Projects were funded at a cost of over P3 million and they included litter control, forestry and tree planting, soil conservation and capacity building. RIPCO (B) provided administrative support to the foundation till June 2004.
Over the years, RIPCO (B) set up regional extension offices in Palapye, Maun and Francistown in order to bring services closer to the people and to mobilize the productive potential of the target population. Each office is manned by an Extension Officer.
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