27 Apr 2014

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, has paid tribute to communal farmers’ contribution towards the country’s food security.

Dr Kedikilwe, who visited small farmers in the Batlokwa territory on April 24, said despite the small ploughing fields in the area, farmers had not been discouraged but they had continued to do their best.

He also encouraged the farmers to persevere despite challenges such as weeds and destruction of crops by animals. He further encouraged them to take advantage of their proximity to Gaborone although he underscored the challenges it has created in the area.

The Vice President said their contribution towards the national food basket would ensure that the country would ultimately be self-sufficient. He said the country could not afford to rely on its neighbours to meet its national food requirements.

Furthermore, he said through buying food from outside the country, farmers will miss out on an opportunity to develop the sector. He said there were opportunities, which came along with developing the communal farmers, adding that local farmers can buy tractors hence develop themselves.

The Vice President further added that the development of the agriculture sector would also create employment and contribute to the eradication of absolute poverty. Dr Kedikilwe also encouraged farmers to adopt the modern day farming technologies in order to maximise their harvests.

For his part, Batlokwa paramount chief, Kgosi Puso commended the Vice President for the visit, saying it had inspired the farmers.  Hence he promised that the community would do all in their power to improve farming in the area.
 He said as community, they are eager to take advantage of their proximity to Gaborone and embark on project which will improve the welfare of their members.

He said the community has come up with the Batlokwa Development Trust which can also take advantage of economic empowerment opportunities available in the agriculture sector.

One of the farmers Mr Abel Katse informed the Vice President that ISPAAD has improved farming in the area. He said about 333 farmers in the area have ploughed 871 hectors, adding that majority used row planting method.

He said they are faced with challenges such as destruction of crops by wildlife, weeds and shortage of ploughing fields. Other farmers who met with the Vice President complained about unused fields and people who steal from their fields. ENDS