Africa-Press – Botswana. Owing to the low numbers of quelea birds, Pandamtenga sorghum farmers are anticipating a bumper harvest.
The migratory birds, forming massive flocks that are usually a menace to sorghum farmers resulting in substantial losses and threatening the country’s food security, appear to have suffered drastic reduction in numbers since the previous ploughing season.
As a result, the current season sorghum harvest in Pandamatenga is expected to yield good harvest, owing, in large part, to the notably low incidence of quelea bird outbreaks during both the current and previous ploughing seasons.
The revelation was made at a farmers day in Mabole recently, by Senior Agronomist, Mr Magofi Kgoroso, who said the limited bird population had significantly contributed to the season’s agricultural optimism in sorghum.
Mr Kgoroso attributed the reduced outbreaks of quelea birds to several factors, including the current drought situation hindering the bird’s reproduction and population growth.
Mr Kgoroso noted that while there were minor outbreaks of quelea birds, their impact on sorghum farmers was minimal compared to the severe damage caused in past years.
Therefore, he was confident to predict a stellar sorghum yield of between 70 to 90 tonnes, which aligned closely with the national demand.
Furthermore, he said he foresaw a situation where the harvest was likely to surpass the storage facilities at Pandamatenga.
As such, he said grain silos located at Dumela industrial in Francistown would be availed to cater for the spillover harvest.
He urged farmers in the northern region of the country to emulate their counterparts in Pandamatenga to increase production by prioritising commercial agricultural methods.
To achieve better yields, Mr Kgoroso outlined essential steps for farmers, which included thorough land preparation, conducting soil tests and use fertilisers. He also mentioned the significance of timely weeding following germination.
Meanwhile, the host of the farmers day, Ms Barulaganyi Tombale, a sorghum farmers, who was equally affected by the impact of quelea birds over the past years, urged other farmers to move away from part farming and actively engaged in their fields.
Ms Tombale said a farmer was subjected to awkward work hours, which included waking up early in the morning to scare away the troublesome quelea, engaging in vigilance and timely interventions such as weed management and collaboration with agricultural demonstrators to maximise yields.
Principal Technical Officer, Mr Amos King said Tonota District experienced 21 reported outbreaks of quelea birds in the current ploughing season, of which 11 of the cases were successfully managed.
Mr King said sorghum farmers in Mabesekwa, Foley, Mabolwe and Tonota East were most affected by the quelea birds.
The farmers day was to showcase SeedCo sorghum varieties and encourage farmers participation in sorghum production.
This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to enhance sorghum production and help farmers make informed decisions based on the unique environment and soil conditions in their locality.
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