11 Nov 2013

A total of 3 540 farmers have registered for ISPAAD seeds programme in the Okavango Sub-district.

Gumare sub-council chairperson, Councillor Samson Maauno said during a recent meeting. He said 48 tonnes of assorted seeds and 10 tonnes of fertilisers had been received and noted that only seeds had been distributed to farmers.

He further said under ISPAAD cluster fencing, 60 members of the community were employed under Ipelegeng programme and two as temporary fence erectors. Digging of holes along the perimeter fence and erection of straining poles, he said, was also completed.  However, he said fence erection had not started because the office was supplied with wrong poles and would commence as soon as the appropriate materials were supplied.

On another note, he briefed the council about the destitute housing, adding that of the 43 housing units that were allocated for the destitute in the sub-district, only 26 had been completed and the rest at various stages of construction.

He said under the Youth Empowerment Scheme, 145 youth had benefited and out of the 60 youth who went for the boot camp termed health champions, 51 were admitted at Boitekanelo College for a year. He said that the beneficiaries were trained to become health education assistants.

The chairperson also noted that poaching was still a challenge in the area as 10 poaching incidents were recorded. He said 17 suspects were arrested and animals that were killed were one warthog, five elands, three zebras, three elephants, two kudus and one sitatunga. Ends