04 Jul 2013

Residents of some villages in Tswapong North have requested government to give them time to implement changes in the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) programme.

They were particularly concerned about the requirement of row planting under the new ISPAAD. The residents of Mokungwane, Seolwane, Mosweu and Maunatlala therefore asked government to give them time to make preparations for row planting.

The residents were speaking at kgotla meetings addressed by the Member of Parliament for Tswapong North, Mr Prince Maele.

One of Mokungwane residents, Ms Orelebile Nthompe said she found it hard to plough her field in the last ploughing season due to the unavailability of tractors. She said now the requirement of row planting would worsen the situation as tractor owners doid not have the capacity.

Ms Nthompe also said they were not consulted when the decision to make the changes were made. She told Mr Maele that they were not against the decision but they were asking the government to give them time.

Another resident, Mr Gape Phuthego suggested that government should avail row planting equipment to tractor owners so that they could rent them out. He said equipment for row planting were expensive and some tractor owners who used to plough for them under the ISPAAD programme might not afford them.

Deputy Kgosi of Seolwane, Kgosi Loobo Lesole said changes that had been made would disadvantage them because tractor owners were not used to row planting while others did not know how to row plant.

He said government should let them row plant some hectares and broadcast in some.  

Earlier when addressing the residents, Mr Maele informed the residents that government had approved the changes to the ISPAAD programme. He said the changes were not meant to punish the farmers but to increase their yields.

He said payments for row planting have been increased from P400 to P800 and in addition P360 would be paid to those who would be harrowing their fields.

Mr Maele informed residents about the integrated farming programme where by farmers would be able to practice various agricultural enterprises such as arable, small stock and beef farming at one place. ENDS