Ha-Mosethe Farmers Advocate for Climate Smart Agriculture Amid Growing Demand for Locally Produced Foods
In response to the increasing demand for locally produced food amid ongoing climate challenges, a group of three farmers from Ha-Mosethe village in Berea is championing climate smart agriculture as a critical approach to maintaining sustainable food production.
The farmers shared their views during an interview with the Agency on Friday, where they underscored the importance of transforming agricultural practices from traditional methods to more sustainable, climate-resilient approaches. They believe that climate smart farming is essential to ensuring consistent food production despite the unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change.
The pioneer of the farming project, Ha-Mosethe Area Chief Maliehe Mosethe, explained that the initiative was born out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We realized that, just like the human body needs food every day for survival, we too need to ensure that we are producing food consistently,” he said. “That’s when we decided to tap into the farming sector as a way to fight poverty while also boosting our family earnings.”
Chief Mosethe emphasized that, despite the prevailing perception that farming is a low-class occupation, it is, in fact, a vital component of the country’s economic growth. He stressed that investing in farming, particularly through climate-smart practices, is key to enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of the agricultural sector.
The farmers also pointed out that adapting to climate-smart farming techniques has not only helped them address the challenges posed by climate change but has also improved their crop yields, contributing to better food security in their community. They encourage more farmers to explore these methods as a way to build a more sustainable and self-sufficient future for the country.
