Low rains threaten household food security
Pini Bothoko | Thursday February 11, 2016 16:14
Unlike in the past, the northern part of Botswana continues to experience low rainfalls with the situation being worse this ploughing season which comes to an end next week, but farmers are still hopeful to receive the last drops.
In an interview with Mmegi, the District Commissioner for the North East District (NED), Keabetswe Lesiela, said only a few people managed to plough this ploughing season, something that will impact badly on the district’s economy.
“Due to poor rains it is evident that there will be a poor harvest this ploughing season as the country continues to record excessive heat and this will affect the district’s economy as the majority of people here survive on farming. The poor harvest also threatens the household food security,” said Lesiela.
Even though the rain was low last year, the district managed to plough 7,141 hectares under the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) programme. It is reported that this season only 12,77 hectares have been ploughed as compared to the normal hectares ranging between 12,000 and 14,000.
Lesiela said this will result in food prices going up especially that even our neighbour, South Africa, on whom the country depends on heavily for many food items has already indicated a possible poor harvest this ploughing season. He stated that it is also highly possible that these poor rains will raise the number of destitutes in the North East.
Lesiela said there is a survey that is currently being conducted to assess the drought situation in Botswana and hopefully it will reveal the extent to assist farmers accordingly. “Usually when disasters like this occur the government of Botswana through its lined up poverty eradication programmes assists the affected people. I am hopeful that even with the current situation, the government will soon intervene in finding ways to assist all the affected families,” he said.
Lesiela said there is also the Ipelegeng programme that people will be engaged with to help feed their families. NED’s agricultural coordinator, Nkaigwa Joel, shared Lesiela’s sentiments that poor rains threaten the district’s economy as people in the area depend on farming.
He said only a few people managed to plough but the majority of them will not harvest a thing as excessive heat has destroyed their crops.
Some recently re-ploughed but germination is poor. Joel was also hopeful that government will consider helping farmers and rescue them from the impending drought.