Late rains boost bountiful Letlhafula
Kagiso Onkatswitse | Thursday April 10, 2014 11:06
Kesego Modibe and Tlotlang Seketemo both of Gaborone praised those who were able to plough despite the fact that heavier rains came late in the season. “However, we still see many fields not being used and it is bad for the country to rely on imported food instead of producing locally. Late rains should not be an excuse not to plough,” Modibe says.
Mopati Tebagano says he increased the hectares under crop this season. “The rain was not bad at all; we had to use the opportunity of the available rain. Now my family has enough food, as you can see, I am selling some,” he said. “We will not need to buy basic food items such as maize, sorghum and beans from the supermarkets.” The rains brought joy for Lefika Diphupu, who said there is no reason not to plant. “The rain was enough for crops to emerge. Now those who ploughed are harvesting. There is plenty in the market now,” she said.
“At least for now, some members of the community will not need to go to the supermarkets. Watermelon, sweet reeds and maize are very cheap on the street.”
The lower prices are benefiting downstream players such as Lerato Pilane of Metsimotlhabe.
“I am not a farmer. I am just a buyer and seller and I realised some farmers had enough in their fields and instead of just sitting at home, I decided to approach them. I am only selling what I procure from farmers who have surplus. Though the business is not thriving, there is no loss because I am buying at a cheap price and it is better than sitting at home,” she explains.
For 31 year-old Maureen Ntebang, the rain reason was perfect for crop production.
“As you can see, I am selling my produce and the money will help pay school fees. The produce and money generated from field produce will help sustain our family. Farming is much better than Ipelegeng because you obtain food and you can also sell some produce to secure money for other needs,” he says.
‘Work with your hands’ is the advice from 65 year-old Modirwa Motlhabi. The former BCL Mine worker from Gamodubu farming fields says people should stop relying on hand-outs. “Some people have farming fields but they are used to hand-outs. In my family, we cannot even try to survive on that.
“I worked at BCL for 36 years and when I retired, I came to my farm. I plough every year, come rain or not and I always harvest something, I even sell surplus produce,” he says.