22 Dec 2014

Government is committed to assisting farmers to increase their production and secure food security of the country despite challenges of global warming, chief executive officer of Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB), Mr Edison Woto has said.

Mr Woto, who was addressing the Southern District Full Council meeting indicated that BAMB which is a non-profit organisation started in 1974 and was using international standard prices to buy farmers’ products. He appealed to farmers to bring more of their harvests to BAMB.

He told the councilors that ISPAAD objective was to increase production by providing free fertilizers and herbicides to control weeds up to five hectares, provision of free seeds, cluster fencing to reduce animal raiding fields.

Mr Woto was hopeful that this year farmers would manage to harvest more, appealing to them to sell to them with reasonable prices. He encouraged farmers to practice row planting as it is has more advantages than broadcasting , saying row planting allows the farmer to easily work their crop fields for weeding and harvesting.

Mr Woto also encouraged councilors to be committed to arable farming as he perceives it as heritage from their forefathers. In their comments, most councilors decried that BAMB is buying their field products at low prices.

They said some of them decided not to take their harvest to BAMB. Councillors noted that most farmers transport their harvest to BAMB stations which they said are too far from them.  They said bad roads also contribute to transportation costs.

Councillors appealed to BAMB to buy harvest straight from the farms. They also complained about internet breakdowns at BAMB stations which affects services.

They were also concerned about companies engaged by the government to supply farmers with herbicides and manure which they said the companies deliver late. ENDS