01 May 2018

Farmers have been encouraged to use good farming practices and technology in order to improve their yield.

Giving a keynote address at the Moroka extension area farm walk recenctly, Tati Land Board secretary, Mr Fawcus Mmolawa described farming as the backbone of North East hence it should be taken seriously.

He said the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security had put in place policies and strategies to ensure Batswana benefited from agriculture.

Mr Mmolawa indicated that Batswana should take advantage of programmes offered by the ministry citing ISPAAD where Batswana are given seeds and fertilisers.

He stated that the farm walk was meant to share lessons and experiences from other farmers who practiced good farming methods.

He said farming could generate income for those who commercialised it and also create employment for those who did manual work in farms.

He also encouraged farmers to use machinery for farming to improve yield.

The secretary said climate was changing which affected yield however encouraging farmers not to lose hope but continue ploughing.

Mr Mmolawa highlighted that lebelebele was doing well in North East hence called on farmers to take advantage of this and start ploughing it.

He urged farmers to use fertilisers as instructed by field demonstrators, “adopt all lessons and advice from experts then you will see good yields.”

Moroka cluster committee chairperson, Mr Moses Moyotho said a total of 332 farmers in the Moroka cluster area ploughed this season with a total hectorage of 815.

He stated that 309 hectares was lebelebele adding that only 144 hectares was applied fertilizer.

He further indicated that 365 hectares applied herbicides with a total of 1 460kg herbicides used.

The chairperson informed them that the cluster field demonstrator had indicated that farms were impressive as farmers were starting to use best farming practices.

In his remarks, Kgosi George Moroka said today’s farming was marred by many challenges like climate change and limited ploughing machinery.

However, he applauded farmers for not giving up on farming with others resorting to ploughing with donkeys.

He said farming needed commitment and passion as one had to spend time at the farm to chase away birds and other animals. ENDS