19 Aug 2014

Climate change has resulted in negative effects in the agriculture sector thus causing a decline in food security.

The same effects were also felt as there was drought hence the Agriculture sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) having declined leading to the poor economic status of farmers.

Puma Energy general manager, Mr Mahube Mpugwa noted on August 15 during the Good Hope agriculture show. He said all this was evident given the change in the rainfall patterns and adverse heat that the country was experiencing.

“As a national imperative, we cannot fold our arms and accept the status quo but rather create a platform for achieving food security and reduce our import bill, especially for cereals,” he said.

Though the Barolong Farms used to record an average rainfall of over 500 millimeters, Mr Mpugwa noted that there have been noticeable emerging trends of high temperatures, the ploughing season becoming shorter and a gradual reduction in yields

These trends, he said coupled with factors such as gradual disinterest in farming among the young generation resulted in the Barolong region losing its position as the granary of Botswana.

“Through the years, I have witnessed this place degrading from being a place once with flourishing fields to a dry and barren land. What used to be the bread basket of Botswana has now become a desolate,” he said.

However, Mr Mpugwa applauded the fighting spirit that Barolong farmers have shown in that instead of giving up, they committed to regaining the status shown by the hosting of such events as the Agriculture show.

He implored farmers to work on strategies that mitigate climate change such as the introduction of crops that withstand dry conditions, implementing dry land agriculture practices as well as accessing information such as rainfall patterns and identifying domestic and export markets.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Barolong Deputy Chief, Mr Botiki Motshegare applauded the District Crop Farmers Association for its effort in assuring that the district Agriculture show was hosted after a two year break.

He implored all farmers to never give up in their endeavor to being best farmers in the country as they used to be, despite climate change challenges. He said the hosting of an Agriculture show was an opportune time to revive the spirit of farming which used to thrive in the region.

He implored the farmers to especially take advantage of government initiatives geared towards improving the agriculture sector such as Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD), and Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID).

Giving a vote of thanks, area Member of Parliament, Mr Kitso Mokaila implored all to change their ways of doing things in order to adapt to the changing times.
Mr Mokaila who is also Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism said the country was experiencing water scarcity due to low rainfalls as evidenced by the Gaborone dam which is currently 10 percent full, a thing that this country has never experienced before.

He highlighted that within a month, if there is still no supply of rainfall, the dam would have dried up and therefore the need for the country to find other avenues to mitigate water shortage.

The Goodhope Agriculture show comes back after a two year break and was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Barolong District Crop Farmers Association.


The association got a P20 000 boost of which P15 000 was donated at the event by Mr Mpugwa while Mr Mokaila assisted with the association with P5 000. The two day show was charactirised by exhibitions by different government departments, parastatals and the private sector.

It also had football games between the Farmers’ Association against Barolong Chiefs and the Botswana Defence Force team against Agriculture Officers with the show’s highlight activity being the horse race.

The show was held under the theme, ‘Reviving the spirit of farming in Barolong farms: In the wake of climate change. Ends