21 Apr 2024

Farmers in the Ngamiland region are inclined to environmental factors such as drought, animal disease and human-wildlife conflict, among others.

However, passion has propelled some to withstand such challenges and become farmers of repute.

An arable farmer, 40-year-old Ms Konyema Mahupe of Etsha 6 does not tire to cultivate her ploughing field year after year.

Ms Mahupe, who was born and raised by farmers, developed the passion to farm as she grew up.

“I have never been to school and do not have formal employment, therefore I depend on farming to take care of my children,” she said.

Although she faces challenges of drought and animal destruction especially elephants, Ms Mahupe still holds on to farming.

“When the ploughing season starts, we spend all the time at our field from when we plant until we harvest to guard against elephants and other predators so that we interrupt them when they attack, especially at night,” she said.

Their main challenge, she said, was shortage of water in their area and her desire was for them to have a borehole and a strong predator proof fence.

As for 56-year-old Teko Radithapi of Khubuga cattle post near Nokaneng, he developed passion for cattle rearing at a young age as he was raised by farmers.

When he came of age, he developed the love for livestock rearing and channeled his energy towards it.

He was however affected by the culling of cattle in the Ngamiland region during the infamous Cattle Lung Disease/Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in 1995.

He, however, continued with his cattle farming when the government restocked Ngamiland.

He has been a fan of Artificial Insemination (AI) since he desired to have good breeds of cattle.

When the AI centre began operations in 2016, he was one of its first clients seeking the AI service.

 He currently has two bulls which are a result of AI and one of his bulls named Limousine Moalosi scooped position one in the inaugural Ngamiland Field Farmers Day on April 6.

Radithapi presently prides himself with 150 cattle amidst challenges of human-wildlife conflict, drought and animal diseases such as the recent bont tick infestation and senkobo.

He said livestock competed for water with wild animals due to poor rains experienced recently. His wish is for farmers to be assisted with boreholes as a syndicate to curb human-wildlife conflict.

Another farmer, Blackie Maenge of Mowana Twin Fields cattle post near Nokaneng, said he was also born in a family of farmers.

In 2014 Maenge took a bold step and moved to his current farm where he drilled a borehole to be an independent farmer. He started with six cattle and currently has over 70.

“Farming requires passion and commitment; it requires one to be present and not to do things remotely depending on herd boys,” he said.

He said herding remotley led one to not see if there was growth or loss in the kraal.

A farmer, he said, had to ensure that their livestock drank water, received medical assistance from veterinary officers when sick and got vaccinated against diseases such asw Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

“Farmers in this area should be closer to their livestock since the area is prone to animal diseases,” he advised.

He said it was important for farmers in the area to monitor their cattle at all times to manage disease outbreaks such as the current bont tick infestation and senkobo since the animals grazed together in a communal area.

Maenge has also diversified his farming by introducing small stock and also practices horticulture where he plants cabbage and safflower, which was still knew in the market.

He decries human-wildlife conflict saying elephants were the most notorious for damaging even equipment such as water tanks.

as such he has since erected a reservoir, which was unlikely to be damaged by elephants.

Regarding the field day, which was held at his farm, Maenge said it was a welcome development in the district and a great platform for farmers to learn a lot and network.  ENDS