23 Feb 2021

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, through the Department of Agricultural Research, has undertaken investigations through purposeful studies on crops suitability to various zones in the country.

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare said in the  undertaking observations were focused on dissimilarities among the zones in terms of soils, temperatures and annual precipitation.

Furthermore, he said observations were based on variability among crop types and varieties.

Mr Gare said through the exercise,  the ministry had managed to come up with agro-ecological zones for guiding on suitable crop varieties for various locations.

He said Kgalagadi sandy soils had been found to be suitable for production of pulses, amongst them  cowpeas and beans, and other drought tolerant and highly adaptive crops due to comparatively lower annual precipitation and adverse temperatures.

“The ministry has developed relevant extension messages which are conveyed to the farming communities through different information sharing platforms such as farmer/agricultural demonstrator interaction, television, radio  and pamphlets,” he said.

He said his ministry had come up with initiatives that were focused on promoting and matching respective crop products to the compatible production environments, adding that it would be the basis from which commodity clusters would be developed.

“This approach is indeed a noble one as it would enable exploitation of the optimum inherent potentials of both the crops as well as the different environments within which they are produced,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Jwaneng-Mabutsane, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister whether there were any studies  conducted to determine common crops that did well in Kgalagadi or sandy environments.

He also wanted the minister to state if there were any promotional activities to encourage residents to focus on these crops looking at their potential economic output, and if his ministry had plans to promote agriculture activities based on what did well in the region. He  also wanted to know if it was not the prudent and forward looking approach that needed to be encouraged during the hard times. ENDS