23 Mar 2017

Farmers in the Mahalapye Sub-district who have ploughing fields at cattle posts were not assisted with seeds under ISPAAD because they did not have proof of land ownership as per ISPAAD guidelines.

Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse told Parliament that, as such, the ministry has no plans under the ISPAAD programme to assist farmers with fields at the cattle post and grazing areas with provision of inputs and draught power.

He also said that he was aware that farmers with ploughing fields at cattle posts and communal grazing areas in the Mahalapye sub-district did not get assistance under ISPAAD during the 2016/17 cropping season.

MP for Mahalapye West, Mr Joseph Molefe had asked the minister if he was aware that farmers with ploughing fields at cattle posts and communal grazing areas in the Mahalapye sub-district did not get assistance under ISPAAD in the cropping season 2016/17.

He further asked why these farmers were not assisted with seeds and ploughing costs under ISPAAD.

MP Molefe had wanted to know what was planned to assist these farmers who had already engaged tractor contractors and were not informed of the restriction well in time and what was planned under ISPAAD to assist farmers with fields at cattle posts and grazing areas. ENDS