Agriculture key to job creation

So, it is no wonder that some of these farmers here are complaining that it is difficult to sell their veggies. It’s all to do with economics – when the supply of a product exceeds the demand for it, prices will fall! Hence some farmers may now operate at a loss since their running costs may now exceed their income. To help resolve this problem, farmers could perhaps grow other crops which are not often grown; in other words, to fill a niche, or gap, in the market. These could include, for example, potatoes, garlic, aubergines, herbs, carrots and lettuce. Although some crops, such as aubergines and garlic, may not feature in the diet of most Batswana, many expatriates – especially those from Asia, eat them. Hence, farmers living close to urban areas could profitably grow these exotic crops. Since the supply of these crops is less than the potential demand for them, farmers can expect to receive top prices for them and so make good profits and remain in business. Herbs and lettuce, in particular, are sought after by many leading hotels and lodges and are considered high value crops. Farmers could also diversify from traditional to cash or export crops; for example, sunflower and cotton. An increase in the area grown to sunflower could result in the establishment of factories here which process the seeds into cooking oil and also an increased cotton production could expand our fledgling textile industry. In South Africa, there are many farmers who grow crops for their seed. For example, a farmer may plant rape but may not focus solely on harvesting the leaves as do most of our farmers here. Instead, they wait until the plants produce flowers and then seed. The seeds are then collected and find their way into the packets and bags of seed that we buy in agriculture stores and supermarkets. So, there is much potential for developing this aspect of agriculture. Farmers may also get together to form farmer associations. For example, maize farmers in a certain area may form a maize farmers association. Within such an association, farmers may grow professionally, network and learn much from one another, and even share start- up costs. For example, some farmers may have a lot of experience in combatting pests and diseases which they can share to fellow members. The Nata Billionaires Farmers Association was formed by a group of thirteen poultry farmers in Nata who realised that there was a gap in the market for eggs. To get the project up and running, each member contributed P5 000 towards the purchase of cages. Similarly, Masunga cluster farmers have contributed to installing cattle grids at their farm gates to deter livestock from wandering into farms and eating crops.

More than 60 percent of uncultivated arable land occurs in Africa. In Botswana, some areas underlain by fertile clay soils in Pandamatenga are still not cultivated. And the Kgalagadi – an area of low rainfall and infertile, sandy soils and often deemed unsuitable for crop production – can, nevertheless, be planted with potato and sweet potato. The tubers of these crops grow well in the loose sandy soils and sweet potato tolerates drought conditions.

Cassava, a major food crop in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa could also be grown here. Its tubers are rich in starch and may be boiled; the tubers may also be grated to produce an edible coarse flour ( garri) which can then be dried or roasted. Cassava is also one of the most drought resistant crops and can be successfully planted on poor marginal soils. For too long, farmers have continued to depend on traditional open- pollinated varieties of maize, but high yielding hybrid maize varieties are now available. Most farmers here prefer to grow maize since the cobs are not attacked by quelea birds ( dithaga). Despite this, it seems that very few people in our villages have made the effort to plant the crop in their compounds even though the Department of Meteorological Services way back in October last year told us that we could expect good rains for the 2021/ 22 summer season. All that I see is people using spades to clear the weeds growing in their compounds; what I call ‘ Botswana gardening.’ But they could use the same energy and effort to dig the soil and plant some seeds! In doing so, they will provide jobs for themselves and others and earn some money. In most villages, the standard plot measures 40metres by 40 metres – an area of 1 600 square metres. Now let us assume that half of the plot is occupied by the house and a parking space for the vehicles. That leaves 800 square metres.

Now the recommended spacing for maize is 90cm x 30cm. That means that each plant requires a space of 0.9m x 0.3m = 0.27 square metres which means that in an area of 800 square metres, we can plant 800 ÷ 0.27 = 2 960 plants. If we harvest an average of two cobs per plant, then the total number of cobs that we can harvest is 2 960 x 2 = 5 820 cobs.

Assuming that we can sell each cob for P5, then we can earn a total of 5 820 x 5 = P29 100.

So, there is much potential in growing food in our backyard to, not only put food on our tables, but to earn some much- needed cash. There is no excuse. There is also much potential in increasing the production of drought resistant millet; at present, it is mainly grown in the northeast and along the western side of the Okavango Delta. Perhaps it is now time for farmers here to consider growing quinoa. This is a cereal crop that is indigenous to the central highlands of Peru in South America, an area that is characterised by winter frosts, low, unreliable rainfall, and poor, infertile soils. Moreover, it can withstand daytime temperatures as high as 400C. And in some places, it grows in soils that are too saline for other crops. The yield in Peru is often between 3- 5 tonnes per hectare. Today, quinoa is grown in more than 50 countries, including Kenya where yields of 4 tonnes per hectare have been achieved. The grain can be made into ready- to- eat breakfast cereals, pasta and bread. The crop can also be used for livestock fodder. And prices for quinoa are much higher than for sorghum and maize – about $ US 1 000 ( P10 700) per tonne.

The reduced chances of crop failure means that crops, like millet and quinoa, will be more profitable and so profits can then be used to expand the farm thus increasing the numbers of people employed. Grahame McLeod