Hoping against hope
Phatsimo Kapeng - Larona Makhaiza | Monday February 6, 2023 06:00
Kgosietsile Motlhabane, 40,
Mmamairing, Mogobane“I planted maize, watermelons, sweet reed, beans, lab lab, and squash. The government is the one that did the planting for me and we ploughed two hectares.
“I planted long back on December 27 but with this lack of rainfall thing, we haven’t experienced any rain.
“Fortunately, the soil was still moist and I added the kunsmis fertiliser, which I think preserved the moisture.
“If we can really get the rain, I believe this year I will really harvest something as I am still hopeful. Perhaps I could even do better than my 10 bags of maize last year.
“Now that I have realised that this lack of rainfall thing seems to be a big problem for all of us, my desire is to now drill my own borehole after this harvest.
“And my advice to other farmers is to always remain hopeful as this path of ours is a gamble.”
Ramoshibidu Lesile, 67,
Mokagateng, Mogobane“I have planted two and a half hectares of maize, sorghum, sunflower, lab lab, and melons with the help of the government as they are the ones that ploughed for me.
“Just like other farmers out there, my cry is about this heatwave and lack of rainfall.
“I am lucky to have some of my crops already grown and I did not even apply any fertiliser nor water these crops; it’s all in God’s hands.
“I first ploughed after the first rains which were in October and after the lack of rain, I spoke to balemisi who advised me that if I still had some land, I should go back and plough the likes of lab lab which can really grow well even with little rainfall.
“I took the advice and did exactly that.
“I don’t think I am going to harvest much this year compared to last year because of the rains, but last year I got eight bags of maize and 40 bags of lab lab.
“My advice to other farmers is that since this is now all about taking chances, I would say they should plough a small portion of land after the first rains around November, December, and plough the rest of land in January.”
Kabelo Rapulane, 65,
Mekgatsheng, Otse“I have 2.8 hectares of maize, beans, melons, watermelons, squash, and pearl millet. Government has been assisting with our farming as they give us seeds for maize and beans, but their seeds for beans are not the ones I prefer hence why I bought my own which can really grow well.
“Most farmers around me did not plough due to the strike by the owners of the tractors as they wanted us to buy our own diesel for them to plough.
“I paid them to plough for me but other farmers could not hence why they did not plough.
“With the lack of rainfall, I have really given up. Maybe it will come someday, I just have to remain hopeful. “If the rain does come, I will harvest something. Last year, I did not even harvest anything.”
Shima Kepu, 63, Sakutswane Farms “This year I have planted a variety of crops such as maize, beans, lab lab, watermelons, squash, and sweet reed on my four hectares. The government has really been helpful as it is the one that does the ploughing for us.
“As for the rainfall, I have put it all in God’s hands.
“I once tried to drill my own borehole but unfortunately I did not get the water even after spending around P100,000.
“This season, I decided to plough in October and again in January, just to avoid such issues of the land going dry due to lack of rain in January.
“Last year, I did not harvest anything but this year I have high confidence that I will really get something.”