16 Jul 2025

A total of 1 107 farmers qualified for assistance with tractors and implements under Temo Letlotlo Programme, with the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture using a total of P173 826 007 to subsidise those farmers.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Minister of Communications and Innovation said that a total of 15 farmers were given subsidy for tractor and implements in Okavango District and of the 15 tractors, eight were walk-behind tractors, six tractors and one miņi tractor.

He stated that the purpose of the scheme was to help farmers to access financing for the acquisition of tractors and implements.

Mr Tshere said the objective was to procure an initial 1 000 tractors in three years to compliment the already existing 4 500 tractors population, which had a capacity to plough a maximum of 303 750ha per cropping season.

The target, he said was achieved in two years, which showed high demand for tractors and their implements.

 Minister Tshere noted that   the number was not significant enough to improve the availability of draught power in the region, citing that ‘this is because a single tractor is expected to plough/plant an average of 65ha per season’. 

He said  based on area plough/planted (1 955.89ha) in the 2024/25 Cropping Season, Okavango District required a minimum of 30 tractors.

 The minister also said the ministry was currently reviewing Temo Letlotlo programme to make it more inclusive in addressing all socio-economic and environmental concerns that were realised during its implementation.

“In other words, it will be a targeted arable support programme that will take into account agro-ecological and socio- economic matters,”  he said. However, in the past, there was a special dispensation for farmers in the wildlife prone areas for acquisition of electric fence to protect their fields, he noted.

He was responding to a question from Okavango West MP, Mr Kenny  Kapinga, who had asked the minister whether he would consider a special tailor-made assistance programme for farmers in areas with a high incidence of human-wildlife conflict and further inform Parliament how many farmers qualified for assistance with tractors and implements under the Temo Letlotlo programme countrywide. Mr Kapinga also wanted to know how many of those were from Okavango and whether the minister was satisfied that the number was significant to improve the availability of draught power in the region.

Also, he wanted the minister to inform Parliament what was the total amount spent on the tractors  and implements subsidy. ENDS