Farmers Magazine Botswana (FMB) wraps up 2022 and looks back and appreciates the highs and lows of 2022 in the agricultural sector.
January we saw an article analyzing the horticultural strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the value chains. When it comes to some of the strengths the horticultural market has, it has been made clear that due to restrictions on the importation of fresh produce, farmers now can be able to farm in large quantities. One weakness in the value chain is that there is no proper pricing when it comes to horticultural products.
The month of February, the focus was on the effects on vegetables due to the ban on importation. With the restriction on importation. Some wholesalers and retailers have suffered greatly since Botswana has only a few farmers who produce the right amount of vegetables. The ban has also affected revenue streams for most shops.
March looks at how the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD), was rebranded from the Arable Lands Development Programme (ALDEP) in the 2008/09 financial year. ISPAAD, according to Hon Moatlhodi, was a blessing in the lives of people in the Tonota Constituency because it had such a positive impact that it nearly turned everyone into a farmer.
April we looked at the trends on the global dairy supply chain. One of the trends being that as Botswana we would have to embrace new technologies in dairy farming by ensuring that a farm undergoes intense digital revolution.
May we looked at some of the fungal diseases attacking Cole crops. One particular disease being Wirestem; caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Basically meaning that infected young seedlings develop soft, water-soaked spots on their stem causing them to topple over.
June had us looking at ways to produce good animals for meat production looking at the Kalahari Reds. With great care and careful planning, any farmer can ensure great returns in the form of high quality and calibre meaty Kalahari Reds. Key to this is selecting the correct buck, for a buck coming out of a good mother line with high positive traits including growth rate, masculinity, good muscling, and having good length and depth of body can make all the difference.
July one particular article was on the beef exporters. Crosscorn even though known for their work with seeds have now ventured into the exportation of beef and beef products to neighboring countries. They buy the cows from local farmers, slaughter them and sell them off to markets outside Botswana. There was also the Ghanzi National Agricultural show which was held after 2 long years. The president of Botswana officially opened the event.
August, there was a launch of the Botswana Agricultural Sciences Professionals Association (BASPA), which aims at reviving Botswana’s Agriculture through empowered agricultural professionals. It is there to help harness agricultural resources to contribute to the economic development.
September was the time when Foot and Mouth resurged again, causing havoc and pain to farmers in the north eastern part of Botswana. Farmers in Zone 6B were the most affected and as such cattle in and out of that areas was stopped to curb deal with the problem.
October, the main attraction was on ways to manage heifers during and after calving, noting that they should be observed twice a day and should be kept close to cattle yards during calving so that early assistance can be given if need be.
November was the second edition of the Agricultural show which was held in Sebele, with the theme: Enabling Food security through profitable communal farming practices. There was also an article that gave farmers guiding tips on how to be wheat farmers.
