13 Sep 2020

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday helped Ms Lechani Chikumba, a farmer at Matobo in the Tutume Sub-district to identify a potential water spot in her farm.

Ms Chikumba had indicated that she had been unsuccessful in her effort to find water in her farm and thereby resorted to bowsing water for her small stock.

Demonstrating his water surveying skills at the farm, the President noted that Botswana was semi-arid country with unreliable rains.

He explained that there were many traditional and scientific ways of surveying water which Batswana had been using to get water for domestic use and for their livestock.

Dr Masisi said he was not a professional but credited Vision 2036 chairperson, Mr Neo Moroka for having capacitated him with water surveying skills of using a bottle of water and or number eight (8) shaped soft wire.

The President used bottled water to help Ms Chikumba find a potential water spot, noting that he once used the skill and managed to identify a water point, which produced 43 cubic litres of water per an hour.

Ms Chikumba, aged 67 is a self-funded sheep rearing farmer, who started with seven sheep that she bought using her agricultural produce earnings.

She stated that the sheep multiplied in a short period of time and she managed to purchase guinea fowls and layers.

She said the main challenge was shortage of water and she had engaged a water surveyor but hit a blank hence she continued to bowse water for her 34 sheep.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake advised Ms Chikumba to take advantage of government programmes such as Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) .

President Masisi gave Ms Chikumba a purebred Dorper Ram. ENDS