17 Feb 2013

Batswana have been urged not to rely on rain water alone but to also use underground water and use integrated fertilizers for their crops.

Addressing farmers in Shoshong, the Director of Senter 360, a South African company specialising in installation of irrigation systems, Mr Casper Botha said use of underground water would help Batswana to produce more food than the country currently produced.

Mr Botha said there was enough underground water that could be used for crops if appropriate machines and equipment were used.

He also called on the use of right fertilizers to speed up germination and proper growth as well as proper and adequate weeding urging government to consider building road-sand and bringing electricity to farming areas.

Good roads, he said, would motivate farmers and make it easier for them to transport necessary machinery to their farms. Good roads would also encourage manufacturers of irrigation systems, such as his company, to set up in Botswana.

Another speaker, Managing Director of FM Organics, which produces integrated fertilizers, Mr Jurie Groenewald, explained that like South Africa, Botswana had poor soils. Mr Groenewald said with integrated fertilisers, farmers would be able to produce quality crops. He said fertilisers also played a key role in the sustainable production of crops.

For their part, farmers decried poor infrastructure; poor roads and lack of electricity. Mr Morulaganyi Tlhoro said lack of electricity made it impossible for them to use the right resources and machines. Mr Tlhoro encouraged other farmers to convert from subsistence farming into commercial farming.

He concurred with the guests that good roads were crucial to the development of Agriculture. For his part the Member of Parliament for Shoshong, Mr Philip Makgalemele appreciated the two companies’ initiatives and hoped they would set up their operations in Shoshong.

Mr Makgalemele said if the companies set up their operations in Botswana, farmers would benefit greatly because they would establish partnership with them. In response to requests for electricity in farms, MP Makgalemele said government had an agreement with Botswana Power Corporation to provide solar power to farming areas. ENDS