27 Jul 2016

Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) has pledged P200 000 for a period of five years to revamp Tswapong Agriculture Show.

Speaking at Tswapong Agricultural Show in Maunatlala, SPEDU representative, Mr James Mathokgwane, said the funds would help develop kraals and other facilities.

He said it was high time Batswana improve agricultural production and food security and self-sufficiency at household level as well as at national level, adding that this will improve their livelihood, grow the economy and create a lot of jobs.

He said it is upon the nation to help the government to create employment.

He said SPEDU is basically based on three merger areas of agriculture, tourism and manufacturing/industry, focusing on Lerala/Maunatlala, Bobirwa, Mmadinare/Sefophe, Phikwe east and west constituencies.

He also promised to take some farmers and farmers committee members to Pandamatenga agriculture show on a benchmarking exercise to help them improve Tswapong Agriculture Show.
He donated P10 000 to Tswapong North Show.

The show was held under the theme ‘Transforming Agriculture in the Wake of Climate Change.’
Mr Mathokgwane further said agriculture should be transformed in the wake of climate change, as the country is faced with high temperatures that affect horticulture, grain and animal production.

He said unreliable rainfall which is unevenly distributed annually causes drought.

He said ploughing/planting for 2015/16 started mid-December with  2510.75 mm rainfall received for the whole sub district, and total area ploughed/planted was 11809.68 hactares by 4193 farmers compared to last year’s 13970.61 hactares.

He said this is an indication that crop production for 2015/16 was very low as compared to the previous year.

He advised farmers to adopt new farming technology such as moisture conservation, soil fertility, plant population, pest management, seedling production, water management and post-harvest to increase yield.

For his part the area MP, Mr Prince Maele raised concern over low turn up and poor participation of some villages in the agriculture show.

Mr Maele who is also the Minister of Lands and Housing said his constituents are very lucky to have SPEDU as it will help improve the socio-economic life of his people.

He urged the Tswapong North Agriculture Show Committee to have an auction sale of livestock, chickens and other agricultural commodities at the end of the show. Ends