14 Jul 2016

 Small scale farmers in Botswana are increasingly under pressure dealing with production, under conditions worsened by climate change.

This was said by agricultural extension officers from Borolong and Kgalagadi South Sub -districts in a capacity building workshop held at Motse Lodge in Kanye which started on Tuesday.

The extension officers are trained to inform, educate and influence small holder farmers to engage in productive farming methods so that they can produce enough food for themselves and the country.

Ms Penny Lesolle, a meteorologist at Botswana Institute for Technology Research Innovation says climate varies from place to place depending on latitude, distance, vegetation and other geographical setup.

Ms Lesolle said there is a knowledge gap on climate change information and its expected impact on agriculture among agricultural extension officers who are the key players within small holder farmer's production systems.

She said farmers are facing more frequent and more unpredictable occurrences of existing climate risks such as timing, distribution of rainfall, droughts and emergence of hazards such as new pests and diseases which are undermining productivity.

Causes of climate variability, she said are Elinino, Lanina, volcanic eruptions, sunspots, dust storms, smoke from forest fires, storms, floods and desertification.

She said in Botswana things which affect livelihoods are water scarcity, land degradation, livestock dying, heat wave and change of land use.

She also said climate change is a long continuous change to and climate change occur naturally. 

She stated that climate change can be led by burning of fossil fuels which increase gases in the air. 

However, participants suggested that land management should be practiced to control climate change. Planting of trees and forest management are also the solution. 

Officers requested that information about weather forecast should be avail every month to officers so that they alert the farmers as early as possible. ENDS