30 Aug 2015

Chobe farmers have been introduced to new ploughing machinery that they will use in the coming ploughing season.

Bio-Chobe project manager, Ms Rosinah Masilo-Rakgoasi explained that they have bought a tractor, two tine ripper, a planter, a boom sprayer, a walking tractor from Zambia with the help of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Zambia Seed Company that would enable farmers to produce more.

She said there was need for the introduction of new machinery as Chobe farmers did not have it.

“If farmers produce more, there will be conservation of natural resources such as wild animals because there will be enough produce for them for a prolonged period hence no need to poach,” she said.

She said the machineries would help farmers produce more for consumption and sell the remaining.

Ms Masilo-Rakgoasi explained that five farmers chosen from each village in Chobe would use the new equipment in the coming ploughing season so that other farmers would see how effective they were and adopt the system.

Commenting on the way forward, Kgosi Moffat Sinvula of Kavimba praised the demonstrations and education they have received from the Zambian specialists and agriculture extension workers. He added that farmers were eager to learn new methods.

He also urged the farmers to use the knowledge and skills acquired from the workshop in order to achieve better results.

A farmer from Kachikau, Mr Baemedi Tautona said he was sceptical about the lessons, but that after a few demonstrations he realised the need to adopt the conservation farming.

“I plead with our extension workers to help us overcome these challenges we are facing as farmers so that we can produce more like the Zambian farmers,” he requested.

He said if they could get help  to fence their fields, issues such as wildlife would not hinder them from producing more with the new type of farming introduced.

The agricultural extension officer, Mr Polite Advice promised farmers that meetings would be held in their respective villages so that other farmers who were not available during the lessons would be introduced to the new type of agriculture and adopt it in order to improve their crop production. ENDS