My Tractor Earns Me Money All year Round
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Monday October 17, 2016 19:31
His tractor is currently at Pandamatenga area, but not into farming. Bogatsu’s tractor has been hired out by a road contractor there, ensuring that every month Bogatsu’s bank account receives something for the services rendered by his tractor. “Nowadays, one has to think outside the box, as to what they can do with such an asset. I am a proud farmer, believe you me, but I just could not imagine just keeping this tractor idle, only waiting for the cropping season; so I looked for opportunities and found them. I regard this asset as a precious gift that doesn’t come every day, so I should put it to good use,” explains Bogatsu.
Without giving figures, Bogatsu says he is very happy with the returns. “Di siame thata, ke a di kgotsofalela”.
Bogatsu reveals that he has been a Sefalana customer for five years now. “I am going to try my luck again this year, and actually I have started,” he says.
Another youngster Ontefetse Kaisara, who won at Gaborone’s Broadhurst Quick, says he was motivated by the words of the then assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fidelis Molao who urged the winners of the tractors to go and become food producers. Kaisara says last year he ploughed four fields, something that he says was an under achievement due to poor rains.
He says he met his luck when he went there to buy grocery for the family. After winning the tractor, Kaisara says he managed to buy other associated implements like planter, discs, and many more in preparations for large scale farming, especially targeting the ISPAAD programme.
Matakala James, of Francistown says she had a bumper harvest of melons and sweet reed last year after putting her tractor to good use. “Vendors came to my masimo to get the melons and sweet reed and that’s when I realised that farming can be profitable. This year I am targeting to plough for others. I am going to buy a planter soon. I feel the tractor has contributed a lot in my life and will continue to change me for the better,” says James who describes herself as a an entrepreneur who runs a shop.
Sabone Gobuiwamang of Thamaga says winning the tractor motivated her to venture into farming and immediately managed to plough for 21 customers.
“I had bought the plough and hired out a planter, but this time, I have bought my own planter and other paraphernalia and I’m ready, I will be taking this service to Kgalagadi where I hope to do quite well,” Gobuiwamang told The Monitor.
For John Fatch Pali of Metsimotlhabe, winning the tractor fitted in his already existing plans as he was still shopping around for a second hand tractor, when the gods smiled on him with the blessing.
Although he runs a liquor outlet in Metsimotlhabe, Pali says he has a big heart for farming. His farm at Gakgatla got him 71 bags of maize. He also ploughs livestock feed, lablab. He is looking forward to using the tractor at his farm to help him achieve the dream of being big time food producer. “I wish I had water, my plan is to sink a borehole, and do farming all year round at my farm,” enthuses Pali.