Africa-Press – Botswana. Deputy Chief of Tonota, Kgosi Pogiso Sekoko has decried the death of donkeys in the village as a worrying development as it indicates that the area may be in for a difficult year ahead.
Speaking in an interview following the recent rains, Kgosi Sekoko explained that history had shown that the death of donkeys was often a tragic sign that drought conditions were already taking a toll.
“Donkeys are particularly vulnerable to drought, as they are not able to survive on water alone and require a large amount of vegetation to meet their nutritional needs. This is a worrying development, as it indicates that the area may be in for a difficult year ahead,” said Kgosi Sekoko.
He explained that donkeys, which are known for their resilience and adaptability, were often the first animals to succumb to drought conditions.
“Their demise is a harbinger of the difficulties to come as it is a signal that the region’s water and vegetation resources are reaching critically low levels,” he said.
However, Kgosi Sekoko advised farmers not to despair and take the initiative to prepare for the ploughing season by taking advantage of the early rains.
He said with harsh weather conditions and high temperatures becoming common, it was vital for farmers to take advantage of any opportunities to maximise their yields.
Kgosi Sekoko called for self-reliance amongst farmers, which he said was also important, as it highlighted the need for communities to be able to provide for themselves without relying solely on outside sources.
He said despite the forecast of below-normal rainfall, farmers in Tonota were hopeful that the early rains would result in good yields.
One of the farmers, and a member of the Tonota West Farmers Association, Mr Keitshekile Majoo also underscored the need to take advantage of the early rains.
However, he said what has delayed farmers to cultivate their land was the newly introduced Temo Letlotlo programme, adding that a number of farmers had registered with National Development Bank (NDB) to be assisted with ploughing equipment but the bank had not yet released funds.
He decried that the soil would soon lose moisture due to the hot weather conditions if the process by NDB to assist farmers is delayed any further.
Mr Majoo encouraged the farmers who are able to plough to do so early as that would not only promote food security, but also resilience in the face of climate change.
Mr Majoo’s observation is that by ploughing early, farmers would take advantage of the longer growing season, which can lead to bigger yields.
Tonota senior district crop production officer, Mr Gositang Kangangwane advised those who have reaped and received a minimum of 10mm rainfall to consider ploughing again to take advantage of the current rains.
Mr Kangangwane explained that Botswana’s arid climate and limited rainfall present a unique challenge for farmers, who must be particularly strategic in their approach to agriculture.
“The lack of a robust rain system makes every drop of water precious, and every square inch of land vital. Even a slight change in rainfall patterns can have a major impact on crops, and farmers must constantly adapt to the ever changing conditions,” he said.
Tonota ploughing area experienced about 24 millimetres of rainfall over the past weekend, Meteoroligical Services has noted, and it is a significant amount of rainfall in the area known for its arid climate and limited rainfall.
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