30 Aug 2022

Government has set aside P3.2 billion for the revised Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) due for implementation this ploughing season.

 Addressing a kgotla meeting in Ramotswa yesterday, the area MP Mr Lefoko Moagi urged farmers to gear up for the revamped programme expected to commence at the beginning of the 2022/23 ploughing season in October.

He encouraged the farming community to utilise the programme which had the potential to impact the desired export-led economy.

Explaining some of its benefits, Mr Moagi said it offered new farmers P10 000 to prepare their fields to begin ploughing and weeding.

Subsistence farmers or those who had started farming would be assisted with P50 000 to equip their fields, he said.

Mr Moagi said those who were already on the ground would get P100 000 to purchase machinery including drones and other farming necessities such as pesticides.

For large scale commercial farmers, P150 000 would be availed this year and additional funds next season, said the MP.

Residents were informed that the Department of Crop Production would soon undertake a tour to educate farmers on requirements for accessing the programme.

The MP decried the worsening human wildlife conflict in ploughing fields which he said reversed gains made by farmers.

As a solution, Mr Moagi said government had allowed  hunting quotas for cluster farming communities to compensate farmers for losses resulting from wildlife damage. 

Big game was also included in hunting quotas, he said.

Mr Moagi said the system was copied from other countries which had successfully managed to deal with human wildlife conflict.

He said even though efforts were being made to deal with the issue, management of wildlife remained crucial. 

Speaking at the same meeting, the District Health Management Team’s Ms Tiso Seemule applauded the community for continuing to exercise caution to avoid contracting  COVID-19.    

She said the district had recorded over 34 000 fully vaccinated people while only 12 000 had received booster shots.

They were advised to take booster shots.

On diarrhoea, Ms Seemule said  the past two weeks had seen a sharp rise in the number of cases across the district.

 She advised the community to take safety precautions.

Another speaker, Ddistrict agriculture coordinator Ms Kgotso Madisa, said the restriction recently imposed on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals had impacted negatively on the agricultural sector.

Because of the restriction, the South East District market day billed for Friday would be without animal produce, she said.

The restriction follows the discovery of Foot and Mouth disease in Butale, North East District.BOPA