FARMERS URGED TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT HUNGER

The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Cooperatives and Land Reclamation, Mr. Molise Ts'eole, has appealed to farmers to fully participate and take advantage of the subsidized summer cropping programme by the government for better yield.

The Deputy Minister was speaking at a public gathering held at the Leribe Pitso ground in Hlotse to conscientise farmers on subsidized summer cropping in which every Mosotho is expected to participate to fight hunger and poverty. Mr Ts'eole, said the other objective of the subsidized cropping is to ensure self-reliance among Basotho through communal agriculture production, which is also intended to create jobs and income for sustainability of agriculture. He advised tractor owners and allay their fears on their demand of M10 they charge for food when they plough the farmers' fields, saying that the ill practice must stop because they are paid by the government to plough the fields.

He also appealed to tractor owners to join the Government's call to help with their tractors and stop being negative even when the exercise is meant to benefit all people. Mr. Ts'eole said  their grievances on delayed payments have been resolved. He said, "Your participation is also an opportunity, where government wanted to give jobs", adding that the farmers failure will mean the recruitment of other people from outside to assist in pursuing the government policy to fight hunger and poverty by engaging in extensive agriculture.

Also speaking was a Hlotse parliamentarian, Mr. Sello Maphalla, commended the government for spearheading the subsidized summer cropping, saying that Lesotho has all the resources required such as water and soil, which must be used intensively for agricultural purposes. He said, "With proper practices in agriculture and education  and of the importance of land reclamation, the worst enemies of Lesotho, hunger and poverty could be eradicated to achieve sustainability in agriculture".  

Meanwhile, the inclusion of the representatives of political parties in the Hlotse constituency at the gathering was applauded as people described it as both a major step towards development and signifies maturity in the Lesotho's politics. However, there was a concern expressed by a majority of speakers about numerous gatherings held on developments in Hlotse as well as their sluggish implementation, yet the multi-sectoral approach by the public is being encouraged to reach a common purpose to improve people's live standards.

25 September,2002