05 Sep 2023

Farmers must use their small farms to produce maximum food, the Minister of Education and SkillsDevelopment, Dr Douglas Letsholalathebe, said.

Addressing kgotla meetngs at Jackalas 2, Siviya, Senyawe, Mabudzane, Butale, Tshesebe, Themashanga and Tsamaya in his Tati East Constituency , Dr Letsholathebe said because the residents did not have the advantage of large farms, they shuld consider modern farming methods.

“Rain patterns have also changed due to global warming, as such I urge you to introduce new methods of agriculture like hydroponics, where they can grow plants in water or sand rather than soil,” he said.

Dr Letsholathebe told the residents about what transpired during the winter meeting of Parliament,  which included the Mental Health Bill and the Arms and Ammunition Bill.

On issues related to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), he said the disease breaks out every 10 years.  Therefore, advised farmers to make a belt along the border to deter livestock movement between Botswana and Zimbabwe.

About depopulation of cattle in Zone 6b, he said although the process was complete, information received from farmers was that 122 cattle were astray of which 112 have been captured while 10 were still in the bush.

For his part, the councillor for Siviya/Jackalas 2, Mr Bakani Badzili, thanked government for keeping them abreast with issues of FMD.

Cllr Badzili said the necessary information was shared with farmers who appreciated government’s decision of depopulation and the compensation.

He advised the community to use their compensation sparingly by investing the money in profitable projects. ENDS