The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Rakoro Phororo will tour Mohalinyane block farming and Tsoloane Conservation Agriculture demonstration on Thursday, 7th February.

More than 700 acres have been planted maize and sorghum at Mohalinyane block farming while over 100 acres planted beans and sorghum for demonstration of conservation agriculture this summer cropping season at Tsoloane.

The Acting District Agricultural Officer, Mr. Moru Mphahama said the purpose of the tour is to inspect and review progress at two the projects. The Minister will be at Mohalinyane in the morning and Tsoloane in the afternoon

About 300 farmers are engaged in the project and besides working in the fields they make monthly contributions for sustainability of the project. The Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Programme (SANReMP) supported the project with agricultural inputs and machinery while the Department of Agriculture and World Vision provide technical support.

Block farming is a concept that encourages farmers within one agricultural area to plant similar crops to ease management of such crops.

Conservation Agriculture is a new concept introduced since 2005 with the aim of increasing crop yield and preventing soil erosion by applying techniques that reduce interference of the soil by turning it once as against the present system of cultivating, disking and planting.

Source: LENA