23 Jul 2017

Kgatleng District hosted a second trade fair after many years of failure due to insufficient funds, the first trade fair was hosted last year.

Officiating at the trade fair under the theme "Practising Smart Agriculture to Combat the Effects of Climate Change" on July 22, Mr Gobusamang Rampa of Agri Sales said government through the Ministry of Agriculture had rolled out various national programmes over the preceding presidencies and the current to promote food production and security.

He said grants and subsidies worth billions of pula were being extended to farmers under ISPAAD and LIMID as well as other similar programmes, which he said some argue that the government is not getting a good return on investment.

“This is true and is partly due to the advent of climate change, our notable experiences of climate change across the country are irregular rain patterns, extreme heat conditions, short rainy seasons, drought, floods like Dineo that were recently encountered and the prevalence of new pests like Commando Worm,” he said.

Mr Rampa noted that however challenges that may appear there are smart agriculture practices available that if adopted would yield a desirable harvest, adding that planting with wider than normal spacing to provide a larger bank for each plant, strict weed control to ensure that weeds do not consume soil moisture needed by the cultivated plants were some of the practices that could be used.

He also said selection of crops suited for dry land farming practices like drought and heat-stress tolerant and even lower yielding varieties to hedge crop success, terracing against the slopes, good timing of planting usually advised by the metrological services forecast if adopted would yield a desirable harvest.

Moreover, he said the above solutions had been implemented in other nations and have proven to work despite the adverse climatic conditions.

He urged farmers to be resilient in these trying times and also acquire all the necessary information made readily available for them by the Ministry of Agriculture and make a success out of farming project.

Mr Rampa also commended the show committee members on their concerted efforts in reviving the much needed trade fair adding that he is aware that the show is in its second year running and as every new undertaking, teething problems are inevitable.

Lastly he encouraged all stakeholders and the community at large to offer necessary support to ensure a bigger, colourful and competitive trade fair in the coming years.

For his part, chairperson of the committee, Mr Naphtal Kaeparura said they have seen it fit to come up with a solution to revive the show after many years of its deficiencies.

He said they had come up with some strategies of raising funds noting that they have realised that some of the challenge they encounter is lack of funds.

Kaeparura noted that they started by hosting a dinner, adding that it was successful as they had raised some money to assist them for future use.

However, he urged stakeholders and individuals to come forward and assist. ENDS