21 Apr 2020

Departments of crops and animal production in Jwaneng continue to register farmers that have shown interest to supply government’s COVID-19 relief programme with farm produce.

The district crop production officer for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Sweberee Kapeko, indicated that as of Monday this week, 72 farmers had already registered with his office, with an estimated 1 570 tonnes of various farm produce ready for supply.

Mr Kapeko said according to the estimation from farmers, maize was the most available produce at 1 128 tonnes followed by cowpeas at 325 tonnes while all the other produce, especially vegetables were low.

He said vegetables such as cabbage will be ready in two months while others such as carrots, oranges and potatoes were not produced in the area. As to when would the department start procuring from farmers, Mr Kapeko indicated that they did not have such information because procurement was handled by councils. 

“We are only assisting with registering produce from farmers, but procurement will be done by various councils,” he said. In a tour of the nearby farms such as Machana, Naledi and Dithobane, most farmers indicated fear that the procurement process might take long while their produce such as maize was drying up.

One of the farmers, Ms Marea Mokowe said they had not been furnished with information on the procurement process and when it would start. She said  their fear was that farm produce by its nature dried up too quickly, which then required that procurement should be done fast.

“At the moment we are harvesting beans and maize is mostly getting dry while water melons would also soon spoil,” she said. ENDS