The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has an allocation of M45 million to assist farmers with subsidies of 30 percent on all agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers to make summer cropping a success.

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ramootsi Lehata mentioned this when addressing a public gathering at Mathebe on Friday.

He indicated that only farmers who have grouped themselves and working as a team will benefit from this assistance in a form of loans so that they could start ploughing.

Mr. Lehata said, "The fight against hunger should not be the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security alone, but need a collaborative effort from District Administrators, Community Councilors and Chiefs to help with expertise and equipment required for ploughing."

He appealed to the community under Mathula Community Council to engage in block farming to fight extreme hunger and poverty facing the country. He added that the situation has been exacerbated by low rainfall.

Speaking at the same occasion the Acting Deputy Principal Secretary for the Ministry, Mr. Liteboho Mofubetsoana said all farmers are expected to plough their fields so that they would also benefit from the M45 million allocated.

He indicated that his Ministry is committed to assist all farmers in crop production in large quantities to fight the prevailing drought.

The gathering is one of the series of similar ones by the Assistant Minister countrywide to sensitize farmers to engage in block farming to fight hunger and poverty.

SOURCE: LENA 23/08/2007