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ISPAAD tractor owners in stalemate with gov’t

Farmer ploughing with a tractor.PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Farmer ploughing with a tractor.PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

A stalemate has developed between government and tractor owners over the rates for ISPAAD mechanised services, with the deadlock threatening the success of the cropping season.

Since the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD)'s inception in 2008, tractor owners say government has been paying them P1,160 per hectare for their ploughing services.

However, the Botswana Tractor Association says that the rates paid by government have remained stagnant for more than a decade and the costs of providing mechanised tillage services have increased through pressures such as inflation, fuel, and spare parts.

Editor's Comment
Exercise extra caution!

Unfortunately, petty thieves tend to be more vicious around this time as they also prepare for the festive season. Culturally, many Batswana go home for the holiday, and petty thieves are amongst those who go home. Burglaries, car break-ins, and attacks on unsuspecting pedestrians seem to be on the rise!That is not all, as scammers continue to take money from pensioners as well as other Batswana who may fall prey to their unscrupulous tactics....

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