13 Feb 2014

Sad farmers in the southern Ngwaketse area say they are expecting low to no harvest after receiving low rains which came late this season.

With Botswana’s mostly rainfed agriculture, farmers depend on rainfall to plough and plant. Unfortunately, rains came late in southern Botswana this cropping season. Farmers at Motsentshe, Ramonnedi, Tswidi and other areas that surround Mmathethe decided not to plant because it was already late.

They said not much could be done during the short extension of the ploughing and planting time from January 31 to February 7. They also said they were concerned about possible crop failure with maize and sorghum.

Shortage of tractors and other farm implements compounded the difficulty because moisture evaporated while they were still awaiting help. Individual-level problems such as lack of transport to go and take seeds from agricultural demonstrators were another impediment.

Farmers who usually ploughed with their donkeys could not do so because the animals were weak from the effect of drought. Furthermore, the few tractors that were available suffered frequent breakdowns. A Ramonnedi farmer, Mr Mokgatlhe Dithole, appealed to other farmers to start driving their livestock from the ploughing fields to grazing areas.

In some cases, Mr Dithole said, the seeds that germinated were eaten by guinea fowl, and mongoose. In Motsentshe, Mr Keyahiwa Kaboyamodimo, said he received seeds but not fertilizers because it was not available. Mr Kaboyamodimo, who was ploughing with six donkeys, complained that tractors were scarce in their area.

Mr Mosegi Ramakapu, the agricultural demonstrator who deals with youth projects under poverty eradication, decried the youth’s lack of interest in farming. ENDS