Mmegi

Drought dampens the party as P360m pumped into Temo Letlotlo

Tears of the soil: Drought once again ravaged the country’s arable farming
Tears of the soil: Drought once again ravaged the country’s arable farming

The first season of the new agricultural inputs programme, Temo Letlotlo, pumped out P360 million in assistance to farmers. However, a record dry spell and El Niño-driven heatwaves saw hectares planted drop by nearly two-thirds. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI, reports

The numbers are in and it looks bad for the country’s harvest.

After an El Niño-ravaged cropping season in which rains in February dropped to a 40-year low, the country’s farmers are facing a steep fall in harvest.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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