Africa-Press – Botswana. All the 61 000 farmers registered for the new crop production programme, Temo Letlotlo are urged to engage with crop production officers effective Friday, to receive coupons for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers and other requested ploughing implements.
Giving an update on Temo Letlotlo in Parliament on December 15, the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi added that those who have applied to be assisted with tractors and other ploughing implements must equally engage with mechanisation officers to be assisted accordingly.
Mr Molebatsi said the issuance of coupons for collection of seeds to all farmers registered under Temo Letlotlo started on Friday and that the supply of seeds and fertilizers was done by Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB).
He said an arrangement would be made with registered farmers to collect fertilizers at the Dikgotla of their respective villages.
Mr Molebatsi noted that all farmers were registered through a digitalised system, therefore making it efficient to pay among others, suppliers of seeds, fertilizers, tractors and other ploughing implements.
He said all the registered farmers would be notified through such a platform and should, therefore, engage crop production officers to be assisted.
Mr Molebatsi said Temo Letlotlo aimed at boosting the country’s food basket was informed by lessons learnt from the defunct Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD).
The assistant minister noted that Temo Letlotlo was more result-oriented and it provided mandatory insurance to guard against challenges of among others natural disasters and would have a weather guide.
He said with the support of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, his ministry had secured an additional 106 vehicles and 28 drivers for execution of Temo Letlotlo.
Mr Molebatsi said the additional vehicles would be available from December 18 until January 31, 2024 to fast-track the implementation of the programme
Mr Molebatsi said the micro-scale component would cater for farmers who would be cultivating a maximum of four hectares for household security.
He said the component, which was 100 per cent subsidised would also cater for certified destitute persons, adding that more than 30 000 farmers were registered under the component.
He added that large-scale farmers, including groups and clusters, would be assisted to get insured loans through the National Development Bank.
He said the programme brings with it enablers such as fencing material to ensure that crops were protected from damage by animals.
Mr Molebatsi said Temo Letlotlo had registered 274 seed suppliers, 264 agrochemical suppliers and 3 074 tractor suppliers.
To speed up the uptake of the programme, Mr Molebatsi said his ministry would advertise and engage an additional 600 crop production officers.
Commenting on the presentation, Leader of House Mr Slumber Tsogwane appealed to the nation, especially the farming community to take advantage of the programme and improve the current situation of food supply.
Mr Tsogwane said Temo Letlotlo was aimed at resuscitating the agriculture sector.
“I believe Batswana will positively respond to the programme. We must ensure that each household is food sufficient and strive to feed the region,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament of Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said agriculture contribution had dropped to about two per cent.
He said currently agriculture took about six per cent of the country’s annual budget.
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