Agri Ministry: 62,000 Tonnes of Sediments in Dreketi Annually
Recent studies have shown that 62,000 tonnes of sediments make its way through the Dreketi River Catchment annually.
With this and the environment and sustainability in mind, the Ministry of Agriculture opened a threeday Dreketi Catchment Sustainable Land Forest Management Training at Seaqaqa in the hopes of creating an awareness of erosion among stakeholders.
Acting Principal Agriculture Officer North Rohit
Lal said: “Our role at the Ministry is to raise awareness and create an interest among the farmers on what they should be aware of, the land belongs to the future.
“We have to do something now so that we can protect it from the damage that has been done.” The sediments include deposits from agricultural land use and non-agricultural activities and soil and rock. Online research shows that while erosion and sediments are a natural process, too much of it is bad for water quality hence making it a major contributor to poor water quality
Mr Lal said: “We didn’t inherit this land from our ancestors, we borrowed it from the children of tomorrow.
“To keep it in a productive and sustainable manner, we need to reduce deforestation and cutting of trees has to be controlled.” He added that farmers needed to understand that a sustainable farming system should to be practised rather than just deforestation. “When chopping down trees it has to be replanted and should always be maintained,” Mr Lal said.
“Sustainability starts with us, farmers take a lead role with this, the way forward to be rich all your life is through sustainable practices.
“Seek advice from the agricultural officers rather than doing your own way,” he said.
Mr Lal said there were many ways to replenish the soil nutrients but nature has to regenerate its fertility at its own pace.