Mosisedi farmers to host 2017 Harvest Day
Mosisedi Commercial Farmers Association (MCFA) will host the 2017 Harvest Day on 6 May 2017 at Mosisedi Farms, Ngwaketse in the Southern District.
Made up of a collective of 25 dedicated farmers, the association has this year developed the theme ‘Climate smart farming for sustainable arable agriculture,’ which was chosen after the realisation that there is need for Botswana farmers to come up with innovative ways to cope with the challenges of climate change.
Botswana is an arid country and only a small portion of land is suitable for agriculture, whilst most of the population, mostly women and children, are dependent on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods.
The country is vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change, as evidenced by diminished agricultural output caused by erratic rainfall over the last years. The Harvest Day will be hosted at Farm No. 10, which belongs to Quett Rabai, Chairman of MCFA.
The keynote speaker at the Harvest Day will be Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Other speakers will include Dr ZHAO Yanbo - Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China; Patrick Ralotsia - Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security; Thabo Thamane - Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA); as well as Quett Rabai - Chairman of MCFA.
In 2015 and 2016, Mosisedi farmers and others throughout the country experienced the real rigours of drought in the country. This drought was simply a confirmation of the warnings that scientists and environmental activists have been issuing about the need for humanity to learn how to do things differently to conserve the planet while continuing to be productive.
Through the Harvest Day, MCFA engages the community on what it means to be climate smart and what Botswana can do or should do to be food secure. The event seeks to educate Batswana on climate smart farming and open dialogue on what can be done to ensure food security in the face of changing climatic conditions.
Climate smart farming can support food security by increasing productivity and income growth in agriculture; as well as ensuring resilience and adaptation to climate change. Overall, being climate-smart entails integrating various aspects of farming technologies.
These may include seasonal weather forecasts to determine crop choice; use of minimum tillage and no tillage equipment; as well as agrochemicals for pest and weed control. Practising climate smart farming is often considered a “no-regrets” strategy in that its benefits will accrue even in the event of severe climate change.
