18 Mar 2015

Mr Balebi Otukile and his wife, Ms Gabaitumele Otukile of Mosa lands near Malaka village in Tswapong, cannot stop grinning every time they look at their thriving crops, thanks to the new methods of farming that government promulgated.

The happy couple is certainly among those at the forefront of a new revolution in the way small farms must operate as new farming techniques catch on with farmers across the country.

However, the couple’s happiness belies the fact that, initially farmers resisted government’s decision to assist only those who were to comply with new ISPAAD guidelines, particularly that of row planting.

The farmers, including the Otukiles, had argued that shortage of tractors and associated farming implements in their respective areas would negatively affect them.

It was against this background that prior to the just ended ploughing season, government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, undertook a rigorous exercise to promote new planting methods during kgotla meetings around the country. 

Today, farmers who utilised the new methods of planting as required by government, have a different story to tell. 

“It was the first time that I had planted in rows, and the results are very impressive and far much better than the traditional broadcasting method we were accustomed to,” says Mr Otukile.

The two subsistence farmers say they were among the first to take advantage of the first rains in November, adding that by the time the rains started, they had their supply of government-provided hybrid seeds ready.

They planted only five hectares of land where they grew cereals such as maize, sorghum and sweet reeds and legumes such as beans (black eye) and jugo beans.

“We were always informed that one hectare of maize planted in rows could produce about 40 bags but it was hard to believe that,” he says. He adds that such method of planting was very beneficial as he saw a big difference from the last cropping season where he used the old method of planting; the yields were low.

The enthusiastic farmer says he was able to remove weeds with ease without destroying his crops, adding that for the first time he was supplied with pesticides to kill pests that terrorised his beans. “It was easy to spray pesticides on my crops of beans because I had planted them in their own space without mixing them with any crop as I used to do,” reckons Mr Otukile, adding that in the past he never knew which crop attracted pests.

He was also provided with fertiliser, another new component of the reviewed ISPAAD programme, to improve soil fertility. The Otukile’s are already harvesting beans and maize and expect to harvest sorghum sometime in May.

They are looking forward to selling their produce, particularly beans to Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board.

Prior to the review of the ISPAAD programme, farmers had option to plant either in rows or broadcast but most subsistence farmers preferred the latter, says agricultural extension officer at Lecheng, Mr Unius Ncube.

He says such farmers, therefore, planted their fields over a long period of time without adding any fertilisers to improve soil fertility. In addition, they were unable to control weeds and pests which limited production. 

Mr Ncube says the aim of the revised ISPAAD programme is to increase crop production through enhanced technology adoption. These technologies include the use of row planting as a method of farming, hybrid seeds, use of fertiliser as well as primary and secondary tillage.

Therefore, he says, subsistence farmers are given 100 per cent subsidy on hybrid seeds, enough to cover five hectares or up to 16 hectares.

He says as per ISPAAD guidelines, they are also entitled to 100 per cent subsidy on fertiliser and 100 per cent subsidy on ploughing, row planting and harrowing.

 Mr Ncube further encourages farmers to practise crop rotation to control pests and weeds as well as improve soil fertility.Another farmer, who used row planting is Mr Lorato Koketso from Malaka. She used draught power to plough and plant his field.

He says he realised that tractor owners benefited from providing farmers with  theior services as a result he used draught power for such benefits to go into his pocket. Under the new ISPAAD guidelines, subsistence farmers who use draught power will be paid P800 for ploughing and row planting.

Where fields have uneven tilt, harrowing must be carried out before planting and this is paid at the rate of P360 and P500 for minimum tillage. ENDS