Output plunges at Mosisedi; farmers brace for El Nino
Friday, August 25, 2023 | 390 Views |
![Better days: Mosisedi farmers are amongst the country’s top producers of maize PIC: FACEBOOK](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.mmegi.bw/mmegi/uploads/images/2023/08/25/84361.jpg&w=800&q=72&f=jpg&t=1)
Better days: Mosisedi farmers are amongst the country’s top producers of maize PIC: FACEBOOK
For commercial farmers in the Mosisedi area, their troubles with the 2022–2023 season began with the rainfall forecast going awry. Last September, the Department of Meteorological Services had forecast “a moderately wet season over the entire country,” with nearly all areas enjoying normal to above normal rainfall.
The now frequent and troublesome mid-season dry spell, which occurs in January, was expected and did occur. What wasn’t expected was its duration – 21 days – and the fact that another 12-day spell hit in March, effectively undoing whatever strategies farmers had put in place to squeeze out a good harvest.
The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...