06 Jan 2019

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia, has advised farmers to adapt to changing weather patterns.

Speaking on the sidelines of choir competitions at his farm in Kanngwe recently, he advised farmers to use new farming technologies and methods.

Mr Ralotsia said rain was no longer in abundance, hence new farming technologies and methods being the solution to fruitful farming.

He said climate change must be taken into account by rearing suitable breeds and using crop residues to feed livestock as well as applying correct rates.

The minister, also Kanye North MP, advised farmers to sell their animals at prime to get good returns and save money to earn interest.

He said there was need to plant drought tolerant crops such as lab-lab, beans, sorghum, groundnuts, wheat and maize,  but warned that maize was sensitive to the sun.

Mr Ralotsia also encouraged farmers to use varieties that mature within a short time, urging them not to despair due to the late rains.

He said land, as a scarce commodity, should be utilised optimally and sustainably to feed the nation, stressing that with modern farming technologies, farmers’ productivity would grow in leaps and bounds.

He said soil testing was an important component of arable farming saying it determined nutrient content, composition, acidity and alkalinity of the soil to guide on the amount of fertiliser to be applied. Ends