08 Apr 2013

Some farmers at Gasethebe and Ramonnedi lands in the Southern District have complained about kudus and guinea fowls that destroy their crops.

Farmers said during interviews that they received good rainfall and their crops were doing well but the destruction caused by wild animals would leave them empty handed.

One farmer, Mr Kabelo Olefile said they had reported the damages to the wildlife officers in Kanye, but they cited shortage of transport as a challenge. He said sometimes the officers would try to scare the kudus away, but they still came back.

Mr Olefile said farmers had been informed to kill the animals that destroyed their crops, but he said it was impossible to do so because most farmers had no rifles and kudus often destroyed the fields at night.

He said his beans, maize and water melons were doing well but the wild animals left them with nothing. He added that guinea fowls were also a danger because they moved in swarms and invaded fields.

Mr Olefile said it was a waste to get free seeds from government because they would reap nothing from the fields. However, he appealed to the government to assist farmers with any means to scare away wild animals.

At Ramonnedi lands, one farmer, Ms Gaenewe Selebaleng said they had reported farmers who left their livestock unattended therefore destroying their crops. She commended government for providing them with the agricultural programmes but decried some farmers who failed them.

Farmers also complained about certain weeds such as mmalenakana and mokhure which choked their crops, noting that they had not yet reported the matter to the agricultural demonstrators.

Still at Ramonnedi lands, another farmer, Mr Motlhalefi Kefetoge said his maize was promising stating that he was expecting good harvest.

He said he had not been troubled by wild animals and livestock as other farmers.

However, he complained about big holes dug in his field by wild animals, saying he feared that they could damage a tractor during the ploughing season. ENDS