Cry the beloved Barolong farms :: Mmegi Online

Despite the recent heavy rains across the country, farmers in the Barolong area are certain that unless maize and other cereals are imported from South Africa, Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) Pitsane station will stay empty this season. As Mmegi Correspondent, TUMELO MOUWANE discovered, the region has experienced heavy crop failure

Over the past years, Barolong region has lost its position as the granary of Botswana. While the area used to record an average rainfall of over 500 millimetres, over the years the area’s ploughing season has been experiencing shorter raining and ploughing seasons, resulting in lower yields.

As usually, at the beginning of the ploughing season late last year, Barolong farmers thronged Agricultural Crop Department offices in Goodhope to enjoy government assistance with seeds and fertilisers. Most farmers were hopeful that there would be ample rains prior to winter to sustain their crops. However, the farmers have now lost hope.

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