05 Dec 2018

Farmers have been advised to explore other ways of providing food despite climate change challenges.

Speaking at a dialogue on climate smart agriculture recently, Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security’s deputy director, Mr Barutwa Thebenala said the agricultural sector’s responsibility was to feed the nation.

He said in a good year harvest they reached about 400 000 tonnes, but currently only 46 000 metric tonnes was covered.

He said it was important to have partnerships with the likes of Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to attain food security for Botswana.

Mr Thebenala said climate change challenges, especially in the Southern District, where rain trends had changed could be turned into opportunities, stressing that the agricultural sector needed to learn how to adapt.

He said it was imperative for farmers to adopt conservation agriculture in order to preserve soil and cope with climate change. He also advised farmers to use approved seeds.

A representative from the Department of Meteorological Services, Ms Esther Jansen confirmed that rain trends in the Southern District were shifting, adding that records showed that rainfall in the area had decreased over the years.

She said the analysis showed that there was a reduction in the cropping season in the southern area because winter came earlier than in the north.

Ms Jansen said the analysis on rainfall in Botswana showed a shift in patterns, adding that there was a decrease during the October-December season and a slight increase during the January-March season.

She also highlighted that there were high temperatures which caused hailstorm rain.

Giving a report on natural resource conservation and community development, UNDP national coordinator, Ms Abigail Enggleton said they offered small grants to assist farmers to maintain climate smart agriculture.

One of the farmers from the Southern District, Mr Johnson Maseng hailed UNDP for the initiative, lamenting however, that farmers in the district were not aware of such grants.

He also stressed the need to facilitate farmers on such issues as climate change and the use of bio gas..ENDS