11 Sep 2013

Arable farmers in Kgalagadi south have been challenged to use good farming practices to ensure promotion of quality agricultural products in their area.


Tsabong agriculture scientific officer, Mr Molefe Majafe said in an interview that there were a few agricultural products in Kgalagadi south due to low rainfall, poor soils, pests and diseases and many other causes.


He said a major factor contributing to low crop produce in Kgalagadi south was lack of skills by farmers.
“ Most farmers are not skilled in crop production and the personnel they employed were also not skilled.

"We need farmers who are knowledgeable about farming activities such as pest and disease control, farm mechanisation and fertiliser application,” he said.
 He also pointed out that low rainfall in the area contributed a lot to limited crop yields, adding that the area experienced low annual rainfall that was unreliable and fell mainly in summer.

Indigenous field crops were adapted to such conditions and could be grown in this kind of environment. Many field crops such as maize had the ability to store water for future use. They also had deep roots that could reach underground water.

He further said soils in the region were sandy and infertile. “Soils in Kgalagadi south are sandy and infertile because they have little or no humus. Generally most field crops grow fairly well in this type of soil. Farmers should plant recommended species for the region such as legumes and melons. They should also apply manure and fertilisers to the soil to improve soil fertility,” he said.


Mr Majafe said pests and diseases were also a challenge to crop production in the area. He stated that many crops grown in the area such as maize, cowpeas, melons and others were heavily affected by pests and diseases.

Mr Majafe explained that pests that were common in Kgalagadi south included maize aphids, stalk borer and birds (which attack maize), green stick bug and bagrada bug (that target melons) and aphids and green stick bug (which attack cowpeas).


“Farmers should apply manure and fertilisers to the soil, remove crop residues from the soil after harvesting, and compost or burn them so that pests have no place to live. They should also use pesticides to control pests,” he said.

Mr Majafe appealed to farmers to familiarise themselves with good farming practices such as weeding, keeping proper crop production records and practicing crop rotation and many more.


“Weeds usually compete with crops for nutrients, water, space and sunlight which are essential for plant growth. If weeds are not removed or killed then the quality of harvested products is reduced.
Weeds also act as a habitat for pests.

Some are parasitic, that is they live off crops and get food from them. A good example is witchweed which is parasitic on maize.

Also weeds make it difficult to carry out other management practices,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr Majafe advised farmers to practice crop rotation as compared to other systems of crop production as it ensures effective use of nutrients in the soil.


He also said crop rotation makes it easier to control pests and diseases as it systematically breaks pests and diseases life cycles.

“Crop rotation improves soil structure and fertility and prevents soil erosion. It also gives farmers a chance to grow a variety of crops.

Crop rotation also creates an environment in which if one crop fails, a farmer can still harvest the other crops planted,” he said.


Mr Majafe also appealed to farmers to apply for funds and grants provided by government through Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and Financial Assistance Policy, saying that such grants and forms of funding are under utilised by farmers in Kgalagadi south.


He also urged farmers to constantly seek help from trained Agricultural Demonstrators in their area.


He noted that almost all of the farmers in Kgalagadi south are subsistence farmers.
“Most farmers in Kgalagadi south grow crops for consumption, preserve others as seeds and sell the surplus. I encourage them to try commercial farming, that is growing plants in large amounts for sale,” he said.


For her part, an arable farmer, Mrs Sophy Letsholo decried lack of equipment, unreliable rainfall, weeds, pests and diseases as some of the challenges that torment them.


“Low rainfall is our worst nightmare because there is no how crops can grow well without water.
Crops need water to survive and rain water is our sole hope because we cannot irrigate due to lack of wells, dams and rivers in our region.

Pests and diseases also threaten crop production as they hinder good crop growth,” she said.


She noted that unreliable market to purchase their produce, lack of transport to carry their produce to markets make it difficult for them to cope as farmers.


“Our main market is schools in the area because they usually buy at a more satisfying price as compared to individuals and business people.
Most people want to buy our produce at unreasonably low prices and we end up not making any profit,” she lamented.


Mrs Letsholo said that she specialises in growing melons, cowpeas and maize because they adapt well to climatic conditions of Kgalagadi south and because they have a better market.
She advised fellow farmers to care for their fields, carry out weeding and other management practices such as correct spacing of plants, prunning, pest and disease control to ensure good harvest of crop products.

She also advised them to grow crops that are drought resistant and can withstand the extreme weather conditions and lack of rainfall in the area.

Mrs Letsholo appealed to people to venture into farming as it can be a source of livelihood especially for the poor and unemployed.



“Farming is a source of food, employment and income. Crops can be grown for consumption and sale hence generate food and income for the farmer. The profit you get after selling farm produce can then be used to buy goods for the family. Farming also has the potential to groom the economy of our country if given the respect it deserves,” she said. Ends