25 Jan 2016

Some Batswana have heeded President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s advise of ensuring the country sustains a reputable food security by indulging more in agriculture.

Residents of Bluetown and Monarch in Francistown have embraced the backyard gardening system and have upgraded to large ploughing fields that can be found on the river banks of Tati River.

This ploughing fields stretch from the old Tatitown Primary School, passing past Mmei Junior Secondary School towards Legola Farms.

After the partial rains two weeks ago that poured down throughout the country, people in these areas have taken advantage of the rains to plough their fields.

The fields cannot be missed by their lush green crops blooming and they include maize, watermelons, pumpkins and other indigenous African plants like delele and Thepe.

One of the field owners, Ms Jenamiso Moswate said in an interview that it was not easy finding a good ploughing field by the river bank.

“When we found this current space, it was congested with huge thorn trees that had to be cut down and de-stumped. We then fenced it using thorn trees to prevent intruders from accessing our fields,” she said.

She noted that it was a straining job to carry out and that they needed a lot of manpower.   

Another one of these river bank farmers, Mr Karupo Kapapo noted in an interview that he first heard about the idea to register for ploughing fields by the river bank from a neighbour, and was interested in a space to plough for his children.

“We registered with the area councillor, Mr Godfrey Kaelo. From there we cut trees and fenced our field and then ploughing began. 2014 was a good year as we made a killing from our produce,” he noted.

The year 2015 was however tough and they anticipate the same thing for 2016 because of the harsh weather conditions caused by El-Nino.

Some of the owners of the plots have decried that though they work hard to plough their fields, some people go into the fields and still their food produce.

They said they suspect illegal immigrants who sleep on the nearby forest during the night and animals which destroy their produce.

The Member of Parliament for Francistown West, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, who the fields fall under his constituency, highlighted that the idea for river bank farming came when residents made a request to him in 2005 when he was still the mayor of Francistown.

He said they acceded to their request and together with the physical planning office went around coordinating ways in which people can cut spaces for their ploughing fields. Ends