13 Mar 2017

Mr Jacob Matebesi is a seasoned arable farmer. Essentially, he belongs to the league of farmers who have managed to dispel the myth that the Kgalagadi region with its challenging climatic conditions is incapable of producing food for the country.

Mr Matebesi’s livelihood has all along revolved around arable farming in a somewhat harsh climatic conditions of Kgalagadi.

In an interview, he said he was enrolled in the government funded Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) back in 2008, the year the scheme was first introduced. In terms of the crops he plants, Mr Matebesi said he is not choosy.

“I rely on my capable hands. I plant a variety of crops such as beans, melons, sorghum, lablab, nuts and even maize.”

Because he has a penchant for perfection, Mr Matebesi said he registers impressive to bountiful harvest every planting season.

He admitted that on a bad harvesting season, he can manage about 40 – 50 bags of produce of each crop variety. However, he can even amass 500 bags of produce in an eventful harvesting term.

Though he is only a subsistence farmer, Mr Matebesi said the produce is always in excess to an extent that he is often compelled to sell to his regular customers.

“I feed primary schools in Werda and Hereford and the ordinary public members. The proceeds are normally good because on average I make about P30 000 per season”, he said.

The proceeds, he said, helps in the general up keeping of his family, noting that he is residing with his grandchildren and everything that pertains to their welfare rests on his shoulders.

On the current planting season, Mr Matebesi is optimistic of good harvest.  He said the rest of the country had received good rains, a situation that suits farming.

He was quick to point out that the good is always accompanied by the bad.

“We have been blessed by good rains, but I think we should at the same time be wary of pests. I have spotted common pests in my field even up to this point.”

When imparting his wisdom, Mr Matebesi reminded the doubting Thomases that ‘arable farming is the cradle of agriculture.’

“This kind of farming supports livestock farming that have become part and parcel of our agricultural activity in the region.

However, if farmers can diversify livestock farming with crop production the benefits can be huge.

The residues from crop production can be processed to produce feeds for the animals.”

Sadly, Mr Matebesi highlighted that personal differences are deterring Werda arable farmers from forming an association, the very organisation that can act as mediator between them and the government.

Despite all his hard work, tenacity and passion for farming, one element gives Mr Matebesi sleepless nights.

The lack of a tractor machine, the only implement that has the potential to launch his longtime dream of becoming a full-time commercial farmer.

In the mind of the Werda resident, Mr Matebesi, a tractor is the backbone of farming.

“With a tractor everything that details to farming is executed easily and within a short time.

Ripping, planting and harvesting are some of the farming activities that requires the heavy duty implement,” said Mr Matebesi.

The fanatical food producer stated that he has always envisioned to produce more food to supply local outlets.

He noted that large scale production would only be possible if he can possess a tractor of his own.

The man who learned farming trade in his youth days, while working in farms in South Africa admitted that he is serviced by tractor owners, contracted to Department of Crop Production under ISPAAD initiative.

He however, noted that they offer service on sporadic terms, which he said does not work for him because he requires the service of the tractor full time.

“I have approached the government to assist with acquiring it but all my efforts have been futile.I have also knocked on the doors of money lending agencies but most have shut me out,” he said.

But he is however optimistic that the National Development Bank (NBD) would assist him.

The determined old timer said he had sought help from the bank and they have asked for the title deed of his field and the recent soil samples collected from his field. ENDS