01 Mar 2023

Efforts by government to encourage the farming community to produce foods are likely to be affected by climatic conditions, says South East Sub-district Chairperson, Ms Semakaleng Sebogodi.

Addressing a sub-council session on Monday, Ms Sebogodi said since the beginning of the ploughing season, the sub-district had distributed seeds and fertilisers to 1 804 farmers through ISPAAD.

However, Ms Sebogodi was concerned that efforts aimed at encouraging farmers to produce food such efforts were likely not to produce the desired results due to excessive heat.

Ms Sebogodi said improvement of livelihoods through LIMID was also ongoing. 

To date, Ms Sebogodi said, 2 250 projects were established in the district since the inception of the programme.

In relation to land allocation, Ms Sebogodi said Malete Land Board had allocated 1 777 residential plots during the current financial year. 

She said the land authorities had failed to reach or surpass the 2 627 residential plots target due to varied and unforeseen challenges. 

However, she said 82 more plots would be allocated at Otse before the end of the financial year.

On improvement of road networks, Ms Sebogodi said funds had been allocated for maintaining gravel roads. 

She said two tenders were awarded for stockpiling of gravel at Tleberwane burrow pit. 

The project was at 70 per cent, she said.

 She said the district was expecting to be allocated P2.2 million for maintenance of gravel roads.

Ms Sebogodi said backlog of potable water connection stood at 60 per cent. She said the delay was associated to varied reasons like failure to reach the intended customers who had either changed their phone numbers or relocated.

She also noted that the sub-district debt at Water Utilities Corporation was also an issue of concern. 

As such Ms Sebogodi said WUC had embarked on mass disconnection of water supply and therefore council authorities were pleading with customers owing the corporation to settle their debts.

Ms Sebogodi said the sub-council would also prioritise accessibility to production areas.  

She said through Constituency Community Projects fund, Ms Sebogodi said council would construct culverts along the 23km Ramotswa-Lesetlheng-Sakutswane-Otse road that lead to ploughing fields. 

“The funding will also be used in paving part of the internal roads in Otse,” she said. END