09 Nov 2016

An official of the Department of Meteorological Services,  Mr Thebe Molefe, has told farmers to expect normal to below normal rainfall this season.

Speaking at Tonota Tutume Masunga (TOTUMA) Arable Commercial Farmers Association workshop in Francistown on Tuesday (November 8), he said an overall increase in rainfall was expected over the entire country compared to the previous rainfall in 2015 due to the expected weak Lanina conditions.

Mr Molefe informed the farmers that even with these expectations, rains might differ, therefore farmers were encouraged to keep in contact with the Department of Meteorological Services for updates.

A representative from Agric Fountain, Mr Obert Ndolo, encouraged stakeholders to prevent weeds and pests before ploughing remarking that prevention is better than cure.

He also said the stakeholders should be knowledgeable on which herbicides and pesticides to use, while advising farmers to administer herbicides and pesticides in the mornings and evenings or in cloudy weather only.

Mr Ndolo also cautioned stakeholders that they should be aware that pests could reduce their production and encouraged them to give samples of pests that were destructive in their fields to their nearest crop production managers so they will be able to identify and control them on time.Another Representative from Organic Fertilizer Manufacturers

Botswana (OFMB) Mr Bonno Rantabe noted that soil nutrition and organic fertilizers are essential to every farmer.

He added that a good fertilizer should have all or most of the nutrients needed by soil, it should be soluble in water, must not be harmful to the soil and it should be easily administered.

Mr Rantabe advised farmers to only buy fertilizers after having their soil tested by the relevant authorities in order to know which nutrients are lacking and what should be used to supplement it.

For his part Mr Rex Mokokomane encouraged stakeholders to venture in big businesses, saying they should form syndicates so as to be able to get money from organisations such as CEDA. ENDS