24 Jun 2014

Southern District chairman has commended young people for their proactiveness during the past ploughing season.

Mr Leach Tlhomelang said in his opening remarks that marked the commencement of the full council meeting on June 23 that a substantial number of young people formed part of 19 420 farmers that had planted over 88 782.432 hectares.

“It is encouraging that the youth have planted 21 785.38 hectares which constitutes 24.53 per cent of total district hectare by 4 979 participants,” he said.

That withstanding, Mr Tlhomelang lamented about an incident where quelea birds were found in Ngwaketse West and Barolong areas.

He was quick however to point out that the birds were controlled before they could do further damage, except for Borolong where a 10 hectare sorghum field was completely destroyed.

On Integrated Support Program for Arable Agricultural Development(ISPAAD) payments, the council chairman appraised the house that only over 37 174.97 hectares had been paid for 11 173 farmers constituting 50.34 per cent of a total area measured.

He said payments were slow due to the newly introduced system of government accounting and budgeting system (GABS), which he blamed on the system breakdown and shortage of funds.

Mr Tlhomelang noted also that the frost that occurred in April across the district was likely to result in low yields. He informed fellow councilors that Livestock Advisory Centres were experiencing shortage of drugs and feeds and explained that the veterinary department was still clearing payments backlog for the previous financial year to enable tendering for the current year.

On other issues, Mr Tlhomelang commended the district council staff and councilors for their sterling performance during his years of tenure at the helm of the leadership of the council.

He said recent visitations and bench marking exercises by sister councils from across the country is a clear testimony that finally other people have taken notice of the good work done by Southern District.

“Frankly speaking we have excelled; people are taking notice of us. Let us work hard to ensure that we do not get relegated to the previous dark years,” he said. ENDS