09 Mar 2014

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has commended Mosi/Sedibeng (MOSISEDI ) commercial farmers for their active efforts in seeking to feed the nation.

Speaking during a tour of the farms on March 8, Dr Kedikilwe said it was encouraging to have Batswana farmers who were determined to see the country attain food sufficiency despite the individual challenges they could be facing.

He said their efforts will hearten other Batswana to scale up their contributions towards the achievement of the nation’s long standing aim of food security.

The VP said he was aware of the challenges they were facing, thus reaffirming government support. Dr Kedikilwe said government would always strive to create an environment that would enable the farmers to feed the nation and he encouraged them not to despair.

He, however, expressed worry that the nation still largely relied on other nations for most of the food commodities consumed locally thus challenged MOSISEDI farmers to take advantage.

Meanwhile, Dr Kedikilwe was impressed with young people among them Messrs Tlhalefo Potso and Duncan Ramooki as well as the only woman who was also allocated a farm in the area Mrs Keitumetse Kgautlhe, trail blazers whose determination, he said, would encourage more Batswana to venture into farming as a business.

Dr Kedikilwe further challenged MOSISEDI farmers to consider diversifying their business with dairy farming, raising a concern that the nation was lagging behind with regards to milk production.

For his part, MOSISEDI Farmers Association Chairperson, Mr Quett Rabai was optimistic that they would have a bumper harvest. Mr Rabi thanked the government for the 30 per cent subsidy for farmers.

He however said that with good farm roads, electricity, telecommunication networks and water supply they could plant right through the year and feed the nation all year round. Although they have a potential to feed the nation, Mr Rabai complained that they have a hard time sourcing loans from commercial banks.

Young farmer Mr Potso thanked government for what he described as a brave and visionary decision to have leased farms to young people like himself. He was happy for the cluster fencing initiative which he viewed as a sign of commitment to food production by government.

Put together, the farmers have cultivated over 6000 hectares this season according to the District Agricultural Coordinator, Mr Gwilizani Maposa. Ends