Late rains, Temo Letlotlo delays turn farmers off maize
Friday, February 02, 2024 | 470 Views |
Seoromeng PICS: PHATSIMO KAPENG
In a snap survey of Kweneng District farmers this week, Mmegi found that many planted in just the last few weeks, due to the late onset of rains in the region. Many shifted from their traditional focus on maize and moved onto hardier crops, including a strong shift to animal feed crops.
Many signed up for the “new ISPAAD” Temo Letlotlo, but are yet to take delivery of the various inputs the programme is offering to the various scales of farmers.
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...