03 Jul 2018

Record keeping is an integral part of every business as it gives guidance and understanding on progress made or setbacks experienced by farmers in their projects.

It is for this reason that the  Department of Crop Production in collaboration with Agri-Business in Selebi Phikwe engaged farmers from Tshokwe and Tobane in a record-keeping course.

The four-day induction course held at Tobane recently was attended by about 20 farmers.

Briefing farmers on the importance of keeping records, the district superintendent crop production officer Mr Israel Baipoledi explained that records also determined what best practices should be put in place to improve production to obtain a better yield.

He said the motive behind record keeping was also to encourage farm managers to think, act and judge systematically in order to manage the farm project more objectively.

He mentioned that records received by the government from farmers served as a basis for future planning and decision-making in areas such as budgeting to fund agriculture production projects.

 The officer said government would be able to make an informed decision on the basis of how the country had performed in regard to food production in certain areas around the country and plan on how much funds were needed to invest in promoting food production and food security in the country.

“Records from farmers assist government to formulate national policies, programmes and to ensure that action plans are undertaken,” he said. Meanwhile, Agri-Business officer Mr Golaotsemang Morena said government’s decision to introduce record keeping course for farmers was part of empowering them.

He said the teachings received were a lifetime investment, urging them to impart the knowledge and skills acquired to other farmers.

He mentioned that farmers engaged in the record keeping course were taught on how to manage their projects and file records on issues such as expenditure incurred during production, the number of crops produced and income made.

“What is important is the implementation or utilisation of the teachings received by farmers for better management of projects to improve production.

We want to see a positive impact,” he said. 

Ms Oabile Lesego representing horticulture farmers and Ms Grace Mooketsi representing field crop farmers in the area acknowledged government for introducing the farmers’ record keeping programme.

They said initially they pursued their farming projects bluntly without skill or knowledge, saying they would be able to monitor progress made in regards to their agriculture projects expenditure and profits gained. ENDS