07 May 2024

Soil sampling and testing has been described as a skill critical to agricultural productivity and could help to enhance food security.

The Managing Director of Proseuche Gaderning Services, Mr Kenneth Nnalenna said this during the soil sampling, testing and results analysis workshop in Letlhakane over the weekend.

Mr Nnalenna stated that farming practice and experience had a significant effect on production.

The aim of the workshop was to equip farmers with knowledge and skills on soil sampling to enable them to do it on their own. He indicated that  soil quality  directly affected crop production, therefore if farmers could do their own sampling and interpret laboratory results, it could boost crop production by ensuring appropriate soil correction.

He said soil fertility improved crop production, adding that it was important to master the soil.

He informed farmers that lack of technical skills and expertise had been cited as the main reasons for poor performance among small hold farmers.

He said the majority of farmers did not have the technical knowledge on how they could collect soil samples and were also challenged with interpretation of the laboratory results.

One of the participants, Ms Ame Galebotsane expressed appreciation for the efforts to  empower farmers with  soil sampling skills.

She believed that she could now help other farmers. Ms Galebotsane said she has been drilled on soil sampling and identifying types of soil, adding that she had good knowledge on what she had to do if she encountered any shortage of nutrients on her soil. She said this would also cut costs for her as she used to engage people at a fee to conduct soil sampling.

Ms Charity Tono, an ornamentalist, said the skills acquired would improve her farming.  She said the training had inspired her to continue learning. ENDS