01 Jun 2022

Residents of Sefhare have been urged to embrace government programmes, especially in the agricultural sector. 

  The call was made by Member of Parliament for Sefhare-Ramokgonami, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang in a kgotla meeting on Tuesday.

He said it was important for individuals to inform themselves and understand any government initiative so that they could utilise  them.

“These programmes keep on being changed or faced out so, whenever they are available, you should always fully utilise them. For example, we had ISPAAD which benefitted many farmers but currently has been halted. I therefore, encourage you to prepare yourselves and plan ahead for the upcoming programme that will be replacing ISPAAD,” stated Dr Gobotswang.

The legislator therefore, encouraged farmers to always register their yields with relevant officers.

Dr Gobotswang also informed constituents that government would soon enact the long awaited agricultural policy that would see an improved agricultural sector.

For his part, Mr Fredrick Rantsho, an agricultural demonstrator based in Machaneng said programmes such as ISPAAD and ALDEP among others were meant to grow or nurture Batswana in the area of farming.

Like the MP, Mr Rantsho also encouraged farmers to take advantage of the available programmes. He also assured tractor owners that his office was working round the clock to push backlog of payments.

A resident, Mr Mmoloki Tarea advised government to be cautious when purchasing seeds from farmers because some tended to supply substandard seeds that were then given to farmers through the ISPAAD programme.

Mr Andreck Molefhe complained about deforestation taking place around ploughing fields and urged forestry department to intervene.

Another resident, Mr Mothusi Sedimo decried underutilisation of the agricultural service centre in Sefhare saying it had turned into a white elephant.

On a different matter, Mr Sedimo said Sefhare needed storm water drainage and also complained about the bad state of internal roads in the village. Ends