04 Mar 2015

Some farmers at Selolwane ward in Tutume have expressed hope of an acceptable harvest despite poor rains experienced during this ploughing season.

Speaking during a farm walk under the auspices of Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) recently, one of the ASSP beneficiaries, Mr Tobokani George said the current ploughing season was characterized by low rainfalls and high temperatures.

Mr George said, although the hot temperatures continued to scorch their plants, some farmers still hoped to reap something, even if it would be less than what they gained last season. 

He said those likely to benefit were the farmers who took advantage of the early rains as most of their crops, especially maize, beans and sorghum had started to mature.

“The ploughing season is not good this year compared to last year’s,” he said, adding that high temperatures and low rainfalls had posed a serious challenge at the fields; “however we still hope to return home with something,” he anticipated. 

Mr George also noted that, besides unstable climatic conditions, they had also experienced some aphid’s pests that continued to attack beans.

He said though they worked tirelessly to fight the challenge, their efforts were compromised by the lack of proper spraying equipment and high prices of prescribed pesticides. 

The sub-district Crop Production Officer based in Tutume, Mr Namati Thapelo explained that ASSP was an agricultural programme the purpose of which is to compliment the success of ISPAAD through assisting small scale farmers with all the necessities during ploughing.

“Some small scale farmers have the potential to produce better yields, but they are challenged by the lack of proper implements; as such they are assisted to pursue their farming operations; thereby enhancing food production,” he said.

Mr Thapelo noted that just like ISPAAD beneficiaries, the ASSP farmers were assisted with hybrid seeds, fertilizers and other necessities throughout the ploughing season, adding that 16 farmers had been selected for the programme this season.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Tutume Umbrella Farmers Committee, Ms Naiye Nyanga commended the ASSP beneficiaries for taking the advice on row planting seriously.

She encouraged them to desist from complaining about the workload that comes along with row planting, saying it was wise to consider the outcomes of ploughing through this method.

Ms Nyanga further noted that row planting was not only meant for farmers to gain, rather, if well executed, self-sufficiency in food production could be attained.

“Row planting is the only way in which farmers can produce more food that would help offset the high import bill that the government has had to grapple with for years,” she said.

The purpose of the farm walk was to accord farmers an opportunity to interact and dialogue about their farming constraints and successes. ENDS