Agrinews October 2012 - Ministry of Agriculture

New Agricultural SupportServices Project (ASSP)Article & Photos: Felix MothategoTonota sub district councilorshave welcomed the newAgricultural Support ServiceProject (ASSP) with few suggestions.The briefing was done by theMonitoring and Evaluation specialistof ASSP, Mrs Daphney Keboneilwe atTonota Sub District Council recently.She said the project promotessustainable smallholder agricultureproduction.It is designed to improveproductivity of rainfed agriculture,focusing on ISPAAD to becomeeffective instrument of rural povertyreduction.This five year project is targetingabout 20 000 farming householdsexperiencing income insecurity,but with potential to benefit fromimproved agriculture services andtechnology.It also targets smallholderhouseholds hiring tractors for landpreparation, and planting as well asowners of draught animals.Keboneilwe said that tractor ownerswill be taught tractor maintenanceand how to benefit more from them,and that planting is going to be basedon agro ecological zones.She said that about US $6.06million has been set aside by IFAD,with the aim to increase productivityby bridging the gap between currentand potential rain-fed crop yields.There will also be demonstration ofviable use of urban wastewater forirrigation.Another US $16.99 million is forimproved extension, Agricultureservice centers, and institutionalstrengthening. An additional 1.97million is for project management.For his part, Councillor MkhondoMpho Legwaila- Veterinary Officer in Tonotasaid that he is a pioneer of farmmechanization in Botswana witha certain John Maplanka. He saidthey started it in 1979, as such; heis available for consultation services.Councillor Ntirang cautioned thatagro ecological farming should notbe restricted to weather patterns,but should include soil analysis invarious areas.Councilor Kgopa said when wetalk water recycling we fall shortto mention infrastructure such asroads to transport produce to market.He said Landboards are alwaysleft behind in discussions yet theycontinue to allocate farmers unfertileland for farming.Keboneilwe briefing Tonota Sub District CouncilOctober 2012