26 Nov 2023

Botswana’s premier flagship crop production corner lies in the heart of Botswana’s Sorghum belt on a vast expanse of open land.

In this green corner are farmers ranging from small, medium to commercial scale farmers, among whom is one Solomon Tshenyo, who tills 90 hectares field endowed with fertile plains where he produces sorghum, beans, lentils as well as green leafy vegetables and tomatoes. 

He boasts of a wealth of experience in crop farming spanning over 10 years. 

Mr Tshenyo bursts with enthusiasm embracing the newly unveiled Temo Letlotlo government programme intended to boost crop farmers to contribute towards ensuring national food security.

According to Tshenyo, the programme is an exciting development, which requires effective and efficient implementation, which he says is key and will determine its success. 

“Lenaneo le le tsile go re solegela molemo fa e le gore le tlaa diragadiwa jaaka fa le kwadilwe, kana lone le batla gore re le balemi re ntshe maduo. Le itebagantse le maduo,” he said. He said the previous Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) which was introduced in 2008, was not effective in improving crop production as it was not cost effective because expenditure on the programme exceeded the value of crops produced, and was therefore fiscally and economically unsustainable.

“Goromente o ne a rekela Batswana dipeo le menontshane mme go ne go sa salwe morago thata kgang ya go batla maduo a temo, mongwe le mongwe e ne e le molemi mme bangwe ba ne ba sa tlhokomele masimo a bone, ka jalo madi a ga goromente a ne a tsena ka motlhobodika,” he said.

The successful Pandamatenga farmer appreciated improvements to the initiative, which has now morphed into Temo Letlotlo with added value.

He emphasised that the new programme calls for financial accountability on the part of the farmer as the programme is a reward-based productivity-output, which covers everything  from improving household food security to national food security, adding that the household component targets micro scale farmers while the national food security component covers small scale farmers to commercial farmers.

Furthermore, the farmer appreciated that the programme was financially binding, adding that at the same time government would offer grants on inputs and farm implements under the programme.

 “Le tokafaditswe ka gore lone le go raya le re tsamaya o ye go lema o bo o duela, fa o reka terekere goromente o ntsha 50 per cent le menontshane mengwe balemi ba a e fiwa ba bo ba duela bontlhabongwe. E le ruri lenaneo le le re tlela ka dintlenyane,” he said with a smile.

He however highlighted that the challenge on implementation this ploughing season would be climate change for the reason that already there is Elnino threat. 

He suggested that for the programme to be successful there must be close monitoring and evaluation, adding that those who exhibited sound progress must be given incentives to encourage them to produce more, suggesting that when a farmer enrolled under the programme exceeded target there must be a provision in the programme for them to be appreciated with vouchers to be able to buy farm implements or farm inputs.

The farmer identified lack of proper farming practices knowledge gap, which he said needed to be closed for the programme to be impactful. 

“Trainings must be done on application of fertilizers, farmers must be empowered to ensure that the new programme becomes successful,” he said.

He added that communities must be drilled on the importance of forming crop farming clusters for the reason that advocacy groups assisted with improving production. 

The Pandamatenga farmer suggested that those who already own tractors must be allowed to acquire loans to service them.

According Temo Letlotlo guidelines, the programme includes 50 per cent fencing, tractor and implements subsidy for both components, improved extension farmer ratio for provision of technical advice and guidance.

The priority crops covered under the new programme are sorghum, maize, millet, mung bean, groundnuts, sunflower, safflower, cowpeas, sugar beans, wheat, soya beans, fodder (lablab, sweet sorghum and moringa) as well as rice. Ends