18 May 2023

Temo Dijo Farmers Society endeavours to push arable farmers into increasing food production and attaining sufficiency and security.

Consequently, the society equips farmers with latest farming technologies and government initiatives to bolster their current farming methods, its chairperson, Mr Monkemedi Dingalo has said.

Mr Dingalo said in an interview that it was critical for Batswana to delve into farming to produce food, but such a move required knowledge, hence the formation of the society to act as a link between farmers and information sources.

Although the society targets arable farmers, it is also cognizant of the needs of integrated farmers, according to Mr Dingalo.

Although details were still sketchy on how the revised ISPAAD would operate, he said the society was ready to equip member with the new developments as soon as the information became available.

The intention is for the farmers to be kept in the loop regarding changes in farming methods and/or programmes aimed at improving farming, especially for those reliant on rain.

He revealed that the farmers had been trained on soil sampling and other techniques ever since the society was registered last year March.

He said preparations were at advanced stage to launch the 1 600-member society, where various farming produces would be exhibited.

The society, which is basically there for farmers to speak in one voice, comprises 13 clusters from Bobonong South and will be officially launched by the Minister of Agriculture on May 31.

Mr Dingalo also articulated the plight of arable farmers in his jurisdiction, saying, ‘we ploughed in November, but we never got rains from then until January. 

Crops died and we had to try again, but we faced the same problem of [lack of] rain again’. 

He, however, declared that such challenges would not deter them from pursuing food production.

He appealed to fellow farmers to consider planting sorghum in good numbers since it had proven to withstand the Bobirwa climate.

Mr Dingalo, however, said although a good crop, sorghum was prone to pests such as birds, which usually left farmers with a little to no produce at the end.

“For this, we require expedited intervention from the Ministry of Agriculture every time we seek help regarding pests,” he appealed. ENDS