03 Aug 2014

Government wants farmers to turn agriculture into a profitable business that can improve their livelihoods.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Palapye on Friday (August 1), Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi said the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD) introduced by government is meant to transform farming into a profitable business.

ISPAAD is one of the agricultural support schemes introduced in 2008 to address challenges in the arable sub-sector of poor technology adoption by farmers and low production.

Mr Molebatsi said therefore the government expects farmers to move away from traditional farming methods to use modern ones which increase crop yield and generate more income.
 Palapye cluster broadcasted 22 575ha whilst only 4 483 hectares was row planted in the last crop season.

Mr Molebatsi who is also MP for Tswapong South informed farmers that the government is not going to assist farmers who use the traditional broadcasting method of planting in the coming crop season. He said those who will benefit from the scheme will be those who will be using row planting method.

He said subsistence farmers will be given 100 per cent subsidy on hybrid seeds enough to cover five hectares and 100 per cent subsidy on fertiliser. He said in addition, the government will also provide farmers with herbicides to ensure effective and timely weeding to promote improved productivity.

He said farmers who row plant using draught power will also benefit as much as those who use tractors, adding that the government will be paying P800 for row planting and ploughing.
 He added that an amount of P360 will be paid to farmers for harrowing, making it a total of P1 160.

Regarding shortage of farm implements, he said Palapye has many tractors operating in the area, however it has a challenge of shortage of farm implements such as planters.

Mr Molebatsi implored tractor owners to focus on purchasing more farm implements, urging them to ask for financial assistance from National Development Bank which offers loans to farmers.

Regarding other programmes such as LIMID, Mr Molebatsi said government took an initiative to purchase small stock from farmers as a result farmers will no longer have to submit quotations as was required.

He said his ministry will communicate the dates on which they will buy small stock in various areas. He said this new development will also benefit farmers who do not sell in bulk.
 On the outbreak of Newcastle disease on chickens, he said farmers will be provided with new castle vaccine freely.


Farmers Committee Chairman, Mr Tennison Moloi said his committee covers Makoro, Radisele, Palapye and Tswapong.
 He said the area has a total of 216 tractors, 63 planters and 69 harrowers, thus asking the government to assist farmers to purchase farm implements.


He thanked government for cluster fencing initiative saying that Mogapinyana cluster fencing is complete whilst that in Topisi and Maunatlala are still ongoing. For his part, MP for Palapye, Mr Moiseraele Goya urged farmers to take advantage of agricultural schemes.

He said the government is committed to helping Batswana improve their livelihoods as well as reducing its import bill by increasing food production in the country. He commended the government for buying small stock in various village kgotlas saying that it will help address the problem of stock theft. ENDS