07 Sep 2014

The former president, Sir Ketumile Masire, has encouraged farmers to form solid farmers associations which can voice out their grievances to appropriate authorities in government.

Sir Ketumile was giving a keynote address at Goo-Mogapinyana lands field day held at Mr and Mrs Dinoge’s fields. Sir Ketumile, who is also a passionate farmer, said associations were better than individuals, adding government was quick to assist groups especially those engaged in agricultural projects.

He said associations and syndicates were much influential and profitable because different ideas and proposals were tabled and discussed before they were forwarded to relevant authorities.

Sir Ketumile appealed to Batswana especially farmers to refrain from having faith in witchcraft (boloi), citing that farmers think that when they do badly, they were being bewitched by relatives.

The former president appealed to government to assist farmers with graveled roads so that they could transport their products to markets with ease and also make it possible for their consumers to come and buy their produce.

‘‘Ngwana yo o sa leleng o swela tharing, ebile fifing go gangwa e lelang, fa le tlhobogile bomatlhogojane lo fetele ko go bo mogoloabone go kopa thuso,’’ Sir Ketumile said.

He advised the farmers to take advantage of early rains (sephai). He also encouraged them to stay at the lands during ploughing seasons to look after their crops.

However, Director of Crop Production, Mr Galeitsiwe Ramokapane commended farmers at Mogapinyana farms for working hard to harvest more produce this year. He aslo encouraged them to step forward in utilising ISPAAD programme saying it has assisted many of the farmers.

He said maize and beans have done well to the extent that Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) got more than enough. He revealed that this season more farmers sold to the board.

However, he was concerned about some bushy fields lying unused instead of renting them to those who wanted to plough. He advised farm owners to register with their office so that they could lease their farms if they are not intending to plough them.

Meanwhile, most farmers who attended the event complained that they spend a lot of time queuing at BAMB offices to sell their products.

They however mentioned that roads department promised them to gravel the road from Segwagwa village to Ditojana. Ends