02 Apr 2017

The Southern District agricultural coordinator, Ms Monia Mfolwe has raised concern about unutilised farming land, saying it contributed to less food production.

She said this during the Southern District full council meeting held at Tomela Chambers in Kanye.

Ms Mfolwe said some land in the district had been left unutilised for a long time due to several reasons.

She explained that the main reason was inherited land as people who inherited land from their parents or grandparents might have no interest in farming.

She advised those not using their land to lease it in order to help meet food demand.

Ms Mfolwe said although there were programmes in place to assist farmers with fencing, some lands were still not fenced and were left fallow.

She advised farmers to utilise the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD) which was aimed at increasing food production and consisted of components such as cluster and individual fencing.

The national demand for cereal, said Ms Mfolwe, was 320 000Mt and 90 000Mt for horticultural produce, but that only 60 000Mt for cereal and 45 000Mt for vegetables had been availed.

She condemned the sub division of farms, saying some do it to rip off government.

Mmathethe councillor, Mr Samuel Morolong said the land board should take measures against those who abandon farm land, and to develop a time frame in which it should be cultivated and utilised.

Specially elected councillor, Ms Ponatshego Tshiping said some farmers were assisted with fertilizers, but failed and wasted government’s funds.

Cllr Gofetseone Rakala of Ralekgetho commented on transport shortage to take the produce to the market in Moshupa. ENDS