13 Feb 2020

For many farmers scanty rains mean tools down. This however is not the case with the Gundas whose mantra is “cultivate the soil every ploughing season no matter how little it rains.”    

Year in year out, Mr Luzile and Ms Lingani Gunda look forward to the ploughing season with aplomb. This is notwithstanding weather forecasts by the Department of Meteorology.

To the Gundas, the ploughing season is of utmost importance and as such the family cultivates the land which helps condition and kill weeds as well as pests.

The year 2020 is no different as they are hard at work working their farm which lies on the east side of Nlapkhwane along the main road and just a few kilometres towards Masukwane River.

A passerby can’t help but take a gaze at the green scenery on the farm which stands out from the nearby withered vegetation reeling from the inadequate rains.

The Gundas, being passionate and devoted farmers uphold religiously best farming practices of row planting, harrowing, weeding and re-cultivating of soil seasonally.

Botswana Press Agency (BOPA) recently paid the Gundas a visit at their farm as they were knuckling down at the farm.

Farming, Mr Gunda stated, was encoded in the family’s DNA and they would stop at nothing to undertake the long held tradition and vocation.

The family always looks forward to a new ploughing season even when the forecast predicts the worst.

The retired teacher highlighted that farming was all about fixing one’s eyes upon God, and hoping for the best even when there was little rain.

“Mma Gunda and I have never taken a break from ploughing, every year we are here at masimo even when everyone else feels discouraged by weather conditions.”

Although the North East District has experienced a very dry season this year compared to previous seasons, the Gundas tilled six hectare of sorghum, beans, sunflower and groundnuts early December last year.

On average, the Gunda family reaps at least 20 bags of dark millet (lebelebele) every year and 60 such bags in a good year. 

Usually the Gundas sell half of the harvest to recover input costs and raise funds for the next ploughing season.

Mr Gunda attributes the family’s success in farming to best practices as expounded by agricultural officers.

Unlike other farmers, the Gundas keep their farm under lock and key to ensure that not a single animal gains entry to keep away foreign weeds from finding residence in their production land.

“This keeps our farm clean because livestock dung is crammed with seeds and germs that will mutate into enemies of the soil and even crops,” he explained.

The farmer explained that the 16 hectare land was divided into paddocks where the other half was for ploughing and the rest for cattle rearing.

Motivating fellow farmers, he said they should never be discouraged Rather, he said famers should make cultivating their farms annually a habit. ENDS