01 May 2014

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi has said 61 of restocked cattle have died in Matsiloje and Matopi.

Addressing kgotla meetings in Patayamatebele and Matopi on Tuesday, April 29, Mr Molebatsi concurred with the farmers that there seemed to be a problem with the cattle, as ten of them were reported to be sick.

He said part of the problem could be that restocking exercise was done during the drought period and that animals were from a totally different environment.

However, Mr Molebatsi also appealed to farmers to collect their cattle explaining that 700 cattle remained uncollected from the restocking kraals.

He also informed residents that this year, only row planting would be covered under the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD).

Government, he said, would spend P250 million on ISPAAD, hence the need for farmers to practice row planting in order to maximise harvest and benefit financially.

He encouraged only farmers who would use row planting to start registering for seeds as a way of preparing for the next season. Farmers, he said would also get fertilisers and herbicides which were easier to apply on row planted fields.

Patayamatebele residents complained that they were not given enough seeds despite registering early.

One resident, Mr Kevin Makombela said the seeds were not inadequate in such a way that farmers had to share 10kg of maize seed while those who could afford ended up buying their own seeds.
Another resident, Ms Mosetsana Sithole complained about the poor service provided by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).


She stated that recently three of her donkeys were killed and eaten by a lion but the officers never went to the scene yet expected her to bring the head and the bones of the donkeys.

Ms Sithole also encouraged the residents to desist from utilising ISPAAD only to neglect their farms and work in Ipelegeng.

Commenting, Mr Ramadila Ramadila complained about DWNP saying he reported elephants that destroyed his crops but the department employees failed to act.

Mr Ramadila who is also the intermediary between DWNP and the villagers complained that he was expected to use his own airtime to make reports to the office but was never refunded.

Another resident, Mr Gabale Kgotlane pleaded with the assistant minister to suggest to his counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism to consider relocating the lion in the area as it had so far killed 12 sheep and seven donkeys.

Mr Kgotlane said considering the number of animals the lion killed, he was suspicious that it has cubs.

In Matopi, residents complained that they ploughed late because the government tractor only arrived in February.

They also complained about the delay in payments of the veterinary casual labourers who were engaged to erect the rezoning fence.

Ms Josephine Odirile lamented that the outbreak of FMD affected the Poverty Eradication programme as some beneficiaries were supposed to receive goats but have since been suspended.

In response, the deputy district commissioner, Mr Mooketsi Lesetedi promised the residents that he would investigate the issue.

However, he advised the wildlife intermediary to utilise the telephone at the primary school to report problem animals to the wildlife offices.

The district agricultural officer, Mr Alfred Mashungwa apologised for the delay in casual labour payments, stating that the funds were exhausted and the ministry had to wait for the new financial year.

He said the poverty eradication beneficiaries who opted for goats would also be assisted in May. ENDS