06 Mar 2022

The uneven rainfall distribution in the entire Central District has hindered some planting operations to be done on time.

Central District Council (CDC) chairperson, Mr Ketshwereng Galeragwe said this during the official opening of the council session in Serowe on Wednesday.

Mr Galeragwe further lamented that the prolonged heat stress had also affected germination.

He said farmers in the district had utilised the first rains of October and crops were at maturity stage, but due to prolonged heat stress most crops had started to wilt.

On other issues, he said there were a number of projects being undertaken in the district to empower and improve the lives of the people, citing the development of Malatswae community farm.

He further noted that 52 she goats and two bucks had been procured and delivered to the farm in December 2021.

According to the plan, he said, there was provision to buy 200 female smallstock and about 10 bucks, adding that he was hopeful that the lives of Malatswae people would improve.

Another project he mentioned included the Makoro Traditional Foods Marketing Agricultural Management Association project, which was registered in 2021 and sponsored by Brands Botswana and Morupule Colliery Company.

The association deals with traditional food stuffs such as maize, groundnuts, monkey nuts, beans, water melons, sweet reed and others.

Mr Galeragwe stated that the intention was to start the process of purchasing and delivering porta carbins to the Makoro gate and was hopeful that the project would result in improved business transactions by the gate.

The purchasing and delivery to site of those porta cabins would be completed in June, he said.

The other project being the Nata Billionaire Poultry Syndicate mobilisation will be fully registered by September 30.

The CDC chairperson told councillors that government had restricted importation of horticultural produce with effect from January to increase employment opportunities in the agricultural sector and reduce the horticultural import bill at the district and national levels.

The move, he said, would also improve consumption of locally produced food stuff.

Furthermore, Mr Galeragwe said the constructed 24 plastic cover walk in tunnels at Radihemelo irrigation project, which were awarded in February 2019, had failed and the structural report showed that the tunnels were not habitable.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, he explained, had engaged its chief state council to advice on the closure of the matter between the contractor and the Department of Crop Production.

Currently, he said, there were three youth farmers fully on operation and using open fields, which were installed with irrigation system and one of them managed to procure one hectare shade net, irrigation system and inputs through Impact Accelerated Subsidy. ENDS