07 Apr 2016

Residents of Lehututu have applauded the government initiative of borehole equipping and water reticulation for livestock in the Kgalagadi District.

Speaking during a borehole handing over ceremony in Lehututu on Wednesday, principal scientific officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Mitah Besson explained that the government decided to equip utilised boreholes in the Kgalagadi District in response to farmers crisis regarding shortage of surface livestock watering points in the region.

She stated that 10 boreholes in Kgalagadi District have been identified to be equipped and handed over to the community in order to relief farmers who could not afford to drill boreholes.

She said the initiative, which is Office of the President driven, was one of the ways through which the government was committed to boost the livestock production sector and relief farmers during drought periods.

Ms Besson noted that the project was funded to the value of over P200 000 through LIMID funds, adding that solar panels would be used to power a pump to deliver water to the trough.

She pleaded with the community to draft a constitution that would monitor the utilisation of the borehole in order to avoid disputes.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Kgosi Kebapatile Montshiwa of Lehututu applauded the government efforts to provide water for their livestock, noting that borehole drilling in Kgalagadi remains a challenge due to the geological and hydro-geological conditions.

The village leadership, together with animal production officials, he said, would work hand in hand to ensure that the borehole fully benefits the community. Ends