09 May 2020

Tsabong Sub-district crop production officer, Mr Motsumi Mafokate, says farmers have performed well in terms of providing fresh produce and pulses to the council.

Speaking in an interview, he said Kgalagadi farmers met the demand by supplying fresh green mealie cobs, water melons, unprocessed beans, melon (lerotse) and fresh vegetables such as spinach.

This, he said, occurred on account of the fact that farmers experienced good rains this season therefore, for the first time in a long time most farmers in Kgalagadi District had a good harvest.

Furthermore, Mr Mafokate noted the Department of Crop Production played a role in encouraging farmers to enlist their available produce to be procured to form part of the government COVID-19 food relief basket to be distributed to families.

He said it was commendable to find active backyard gardens which managed to supply 99 bundles of spinach which each weighed 2kg found at Maralaleng, Kisa, Draihoek, Werda and Kokotsha. 

In the same sub district government purchased 6 745 water melons, 15 287green mealies , 3 638 melons, 3 753 small packets of dried bean leaves (morogo wa dinawa) and eggs as part of government local economic empowerment initiative during the COVID 19 pandemic.

He emphasised that more fresh produce was needed and therefore more farmers were encouraged to visit the Agricultural Crop Production division office or their local farm extension officers to enlist what they have to offer for possible buying by government.

For her part, Kgalagadi District Council senior public relations officer, Ms Tabona Ndoli said of the required agricultural produce, so far, a total of 45 630 green mealie cobs, 10 510 eggs, 5 845 of 2kgs of unprocessed beans, 9 330 water melons, 9 330 melons, 5 845 spinach and 18 660 packets of dried bean leaves were needed to supply households which were recommended to be assisted with the food relief baskets in the sub-district.

So far the council was able to distribute 8 551 of green mealies cobs, 1 285 dozens of eggs, unprocessed beans packets were 4 736, water melons were 2 922, melons were 3 155, packets of dried bean leaves were 3 011 while 73 spinach bundles had been distributed so far and more continued to be distributed as the distribution process continued.

She said buttressed that it was critical to engage local farmers to supply as a way of local empowerment hence more farmers should liaise with crop production division and bring their produce to form part of the relief package…ENDS