25 Apr 2020

Farmers have urged government to expedite purchasing of agricultural products from their fields because some are already losing quality.

They appreciated efforts by government to register them to facilitate access to the market during the difficult time brought by COVID-19 pandemic, but stated that it was taking long without any positive response.

Individual farmers and companies were recently encouraged to register with the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security offices in their respective areas.

Farmers aired their views in random interviews, stating that lack of market was a major challenge, despite their bumper harvest and called for government intervention, saying they had been waiting to be called to bring the produce.

Prior to the pandemic, they said they used to sell their produce at shopping complexes and to some schools in Maun as well as surrounding villages.

One of the farmers, Ms Gasekgale Moronkwe of Tsanakona fields, said she had ploughed nine hectares of maize, beans, sugar cane, melons and water melons, which were ready for market.

She indicated that she registered with the area agricultural demonstrator last week but there was no feedback. Some of the produces, she said, were losing quality because of lack of market.

Ms Moronkwe said every year, she made a killing from her produce as she supplied schools and sold surplus to individuals at shopping complexes.

“On average, I make between P12 000 - P15 000 in a day through the selling of my agricultural produce and today my hands are tied as there is nowhere to take my produce to,” she added.

She pointed out that since the commencement of extreme social distancing regulation, she relocated to her field with her family and they were adhering to the protocol.

She said they depended on their field produce because hey could not go out to buy grocery.  

An official from Department of Agriculture, Mr Kenneth Mabote, said purchasing of agricultural products was done by social workers and admitted that some field produce were running out of time.

He also noted their agricultural produce list differed with the ones for social workers as they had indicated that they would purchase melons, maize, sugar cane and beans only while in their list, while at agriculture offices, registration was extended to farmers in the horticulture sector.

Mr Mabote said they were still waiting for an answer as to where would the other produce be sold. ENDS