17 Mar 2015

Cluster fencing, a component of the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture (ISPAAD), has since inception generated interest from a good number of arable farmers in the Central and Southern Districts.

Aimed at increasing hectorage and subsequently doubling crop production, the programme has so far benefitted about 10 clusters in the Central District, two of which have been completed while the remaining eight are at various stages of construction.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) revealed that P3.6 million has been spent on the two completed clusters while about P3.5 million has thus far been spent on ongoing projects.

Completed clusters are Mmashoro under Serowe Sub-district and Mogapinyana under Palapye Sub-district. Ongoing projects include Kobalemokabi and Maunatlala while Mafolosa, Sefhare and Karakatea are nearing completion, according to ISPAAD coordinator Central District, Mr Efeletse Onneetse.

Makhi, Rakops, Topisi, Mookane were also under construction while Tamasane had just received fencing material.  An extraordinary electrified cluster fence will be constructed in Bobonong to prevent marauding elephants from intruding ploughing fields and causing damage to the crops. 

Information from the ISPAAD coordinator shows that before the individual component of the fencing was suspended, the district had received 1 313 applications from males while 1 421 women had shown interest. 

Of the applicants, 1 373 females were approved while 1 279 of their counterparts also got a nod from ISPAAD officials. Only 13 females and nine males were rejected on various grounds. 

However, those whose projects were ongoing and those that were approved before suspension on individual fencing was enforced will continue receiving the promised assistance until their projects are completed. 

The programme is intended to allow individual farmers who do not have farms bordering theirs or cannot be clustered, to be assisted with fencing material at 50 per cent subsidy to construct perimeter fences for up to P70 000 while groups will be assisted to construct fences for up to P200 000.   

Mr Onneetse and his colleagues demonstrated during the interview that a good number of individuals had paid their contribution and about 43 females and 76 males had already fenced their fields and were expecting the numbers to swell with time. 

Meanwhile, in the Southern District, Lokabane cluster fence is a practical demonstration of what the synergy of the Ipelegeng Programme and ISPAAD can achieve.  Thirty-four farmers in the area were given P394 322 under the ISPAAD programme to start the project in 2012. 

“We didn’t know we could be engaged through the Ipelegeng programme to work for ourselves. Can you imagine the pleasure of being paid by government to do a job for yourself?” asked and excited cluster committee chairperson, George Abotseng.

Although it has been barely two years since the fence was handed over to the farmers, Mr Abotseng was quick to share that they had harvested good quality produce last year as a result of the security it has provided. 

Kanngwe Agricultural extension officer, Mr Andrew Ofentse, says 103 farmers have ploughed 150.96 hectares this season compared with 400ha last year.  Mr Ofentse has nonetheless encouraged farmers to go for cluster farming adding the essence was to have them complement rather than competing with each other during farm operations. 

Meanwhile the agronomist for the area Ms Emeliah Magosi has encouraged the farmers to take advantage of the fence and graduate from subsistence to commercial farmers. ENDS