17 Nov 2021

It is imperative that roads infrastructure to agricultural production areas be prioritised to help farmers increase commercialisation of their products, Member of Parliament for Bobonong constituency Mr Taolo Lucas has said.

Handing over a stretch of a gravel road at Sekoding lands Monday, Mr Lucas said improved roads to production areas would also encourage farmers to take up the farming challenge seriously.

It was reported that the old clay stretch made it difficult for farmers to access their ploughing fields as it got saggy and made vehicles to get stuck during rainy period. Even the famed four wheel drive vehicles could not outmanoeuvre the spot after heavy rains, according to the road users.

However, MP Lucas said his office came on board to address the nagging problem with a view to help farmers achieve their mandate of producing food without having to worry about the road.

“We have made it a deliberate move to prioritise addressing issues of people at masimo (ploughing fields) and cattle posts since these areas remained neglected yet are of utmost importance,” Mr Lucas said.

He also said that his office would not, however, engage in mega projects that required huge funds and higher level of expertise. Those, he said, would be left to the government to address.
Already, the MP’s office has facilitated construction of a culvert at Mmamonaka lands, refurbished a clinic at Metsibotlhoko cattle posts amongst others.

The area MP said such projects were a necessity to the farmers who bore no interests in staying at the village. However, he was troubled that lack of facilities at the production areas adversely crippled production.

The road users were full of gratitude. They voiced that the completion of the gravel stretch will put to bed their fears of traveling to Bobonong during rainy season.

“I usually get worried when it rains while still in Bobonong because making it past that spot would be a daunting challenge,” said Ms Phetogo Toteng.

For his part, owner of Sand Lovers, a sand mining contractor, encouraged unity to help in the implementation projects in the constituency. He argued that working in unison would breed great achievements. ENDS