Over 40% Of Batswana do not plant crops
Monday, August 18, 2014
The same statistics also show that a whopping 21% of Batswana do not own any livestock while 20.6% own just poultry. Kgomo, cattle, traditionally viewed as a measure of a household’s well being, are owned by 19.7% of Batswana.
The figure also reveals that maize (17.2%), beans (14.1%), sorghum (10.7%), and sweet reeds (10.7%) were the most commonly planted crops, but there is a decrease in the number of households planting crops between 2001 and 2011. For example, while 192,316 households planted maize in 2001, the number reduced to 157,943 in 2011.
The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...