04 Jan 2016

The Minister of Agriculture Mr Patrick Ralotsia has advised rain fed crop farmers to consider no-till farming.

Speaking in an interview during a tour of the Southern District farms on Thursday last week, Mr Ralotsia said climate change no longer allows farmers to expose the little moisture in the soil to heat when ploughing through the usual soil tilling method.

He said although tilling of land has been practiced for ages, time has come for Batswana to become climate smart and adopt new farming technologies like no-till farming to preserve the little moisture in the soil.

“We need to align ourselves with the demands of climate, go to Pandamatenga for instance, you won’t see a plough but they are the best by harvest,”he stressed.

Mr Ralotsia said it is important to bench mark on countries like South Africa which has moved ahead with the practice adding precision farming is now the way to go.

On other issues, Mr Ralotsia explained that farm roads will be maintained through the Economic Stimulus Package Programme to enable farmers to keep up with the latest farm technologies.

He said electricity will also be reticulated to high production areas in order to create an enabling environment for food producers.

On other issues, he advised farmers to use solar energy to run boreholes which he described as cost effective compared to diesel.

However, he was disappointed that only 338 hectares of farmland have been ploughed between Metlobo, Mosi and Kanngwe against a total of 10 000 hectares ploughed at the same time last year.

He attributed the deficit to poor rains and the heat wave that has struck the country lately.

He said boreholes are drying up across the country with little hope for dry land farmers.

Mr Ralotsia also Member of Parliament for the Kanye North said from the look of things, government will be forced to consider food importation from countries like South Africa which are equally affected by the drought or even Australia.

The minister also took the opportunity to update farmers on the newly introduced 50  per cent subsidy on stock feeds.

He said the intention is to cushion farmers against drought.

However, he explained that the dispensation will be available at LACs only not private operators.

Thus he encouraged livestock owners to reduce the number of stock they have to avoid unnecessary losses.

Meanwhile, a farmer Ms Thato Ketsitlile of Letlhabile Farming Club said although they are subsistence farmers they have set themselves a target of emerging farmers. She said the club has enlisted the services of experienced farmers and experts to give members a push down the road.

She said the club seeks to teach and encourage small farmers to do farming as a business not a pastime job.

Another farmer, Mr Kooagile Kgosiemang of Kanngwe reiterated that farmers should become climate smart.

He said the effects of climate change are here.

The purpose of the tour was to assess the drought situation around the district.

Kgosi Isaac Keipeile of Metlobo thanked the minister for the tour adding it would give him first-hand information on the drought situation.

He also advised LACs to revert to the manual payment system when electronic network is down. ENDS