17 Feb 2016

Some subsistence farmers in Tutume have decried high temperatures and unreliable rainfall in this ploughing season.

They also lamented disappearance of traditional food such as makgomane, nyebu and others that were slowly fading away.

Expressing their views in an interview recently, farmers noted that due to high temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, they continued to experience crop failure, which negatively affected their produce.

A 60-year-old farmer, Mr Rapson Monna, expressed sadness that the situation had forced him to re-plough in late December, noting that he first ploughed in November when the ploughing season commenced.

“This ploughing season is characterised by unreliable rainfall and high heat waves, which seem to quickly swipe away moisture from the soil. This has dealt me a hard blow as nothing emerged despite that I first ploughed during the first rains in November,” he said.

Mr Monna said as such he was forced to re-plough  in January and only a few crops germinated, noting that he re-planted four hectares of millet and 8.3 hectares of sorghum.

“With this situation, I am likely to be left counting losses because I spent much in terms of the diesel for the tractor used for ploughing and other necessities with expectations that I will recover the costs by selling some of my products,” he said.

Mr Monna said at the end of the ploughing season, he always made satisfactory profits by selling his produce, especially sorghum to Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) and other local milling entrepreneurs.

Another farmer, Mr Karabo Monyamane also said unreliable rainfall had forced him to plough late. He said instead of ploughing more of sorghum, maize and millet as usual, he decided to plough black eyed beans and lab-lab, noting that they are progressing well.

“I have only ploughed a few hectares of sorghum and millet for family consumption and more of lab-lab for my livestock feed,” he said. The senior agricultural officer in the Department of Crop Production at Tutume Sub–District, Mr Namati Thapelo said fewer fields have been ploughed in this ploughing season as compared to last year.

He noted that only 8 000 hectares have been ploughed compared to the 15 000 that was ploughed in the last ploughing season. Mr Thapelo further noted that all farmers who followed the procedure on row planting will be paid accordingly, despite the failed crops.

He advised farmers not to despair despite the challenges they are faced with, noting that they should consider other means that will help them continue with farming. Ends