28 Feb 2018

Parliament has been informed that all the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) tractors were serviced at the end of the 2016/2017 ploughing season.

The Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse said in response to a parliamentary question that the serviced tractors included the three that had been allocated to Tutume Sub-district and that the servicing was done by the in-house maintenance crew from Gaborone.

Mr Autlwetse further said before the beginning of the 2017/2018 ploughing season, the three tractors at Tutume were engaged in cluster fence construction and the project could not be abandoned before it was completed.

Mr Autlwetse noted that the servicing of tractors would be outsourced at district level if need arose instead of waiting for the maintenance team from Gaborone, noting however that privately owned tractors should also be used in ISPAAD so that farmers do not depend entirely on government as this can cause undue delays and even failure by farmers to benefit accordingly.

Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga had asked if the minister was aware that all the three tractors, which form part of the Tutume farming machinery were not serviced during the 2017/18 season.

He also wanted to know why this was allowed to happen during the critical time of need.  The minister was further asked to assure the house that this will not recur.ENDS