Maseru, Sept. 09 — The Farmers Pitso presented awards to the farmers who have excelled in different fields of farming at a ceremony held at the ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre on Saturday.
The Convention centre beamed with enthusiasm and jubilant as recipients of awards from the association in order to motivate the farmers.
The recipients of the awards included prominent farmers like Leader of All Basotho Convention (ABC), Mr. Nkaku Kabi, Lesotho National Wool and Mohair Growers Association (LNWMGA) President Mr. Mokoenehi Thinyane, as well as up and coming farmers from herders including a South African Merino and Angora goats farmer who provides the local farmers with technical knowledge and sell rams to them.
They were presented with awards and blankets including caps amidst dancing, singing and ululation as they went to the stage to receive the awards as a token of appreciation for their hard work.
Among the awards recipients included two members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Privates Rorisang Moepi and Dumile Ts’oeunyane who were once detained at Matatiele in South Africa for following on the stolen stock from Qacha’s Nek to South Africa.
They were presented with awards and blankets as well as two Lesotho Mounted Police Service officers Inspectors Ts’otleho Makhele and Mapuru Makhakhe for their sterling job in fighting stock theft.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Mr. Thabo Mofosi commended the Farmers Pitso Association for the initiative to recognise the farmers, saying that will motivate them to work even harder.
He noted that there is time for entertainment as well as time for work, promising that next time he will organise a gala dinner for the farmers in order to recognise their contribution to the economic growth and food security in the country.
‘Farming is not a business but a God sent call to those who are passionate about farming’ he highlighted.
The Minister made a promise to the farmers that next time, they will be able to buy homemade tractors and that there will be no need for them to go to neighbouring South Africa to buy them.
Mr. Mofosi noted that Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane has recently opened an Artificial Insemination Centre in Quthing, saying it will be fully operational in six months’ time as he has been allocated funds to purchase equipment needed by the farmers.
He said importing hybrid merino and Angola genetics from as far as Australia will no longer be a hassle once the Artificial Insemination centre is complete.
In conclusion, the Minister invited the farmers to be present at the World Food Day commemoration to be held in the Mafeteng district on October 13 this year.
One of Farmers Pitso Awards organisers on behalf of the farmers, Mr. Thabiso Mats’oele said the event has been organised not as a competition to the farmers but as a come together to share views and experiences, saying they were all winners.
He noted that they come together in a form of workshops as well as for study tours in various parts of the country and that they will be undertaking an international trip to Zimbabwe later this year in order to learn what other farmers are doing in order to implement what they learned at home.
The farmers also displayed their products at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre that included agricultural products and equipment.
Some of the farmers were dressed in camouflage while others were clad in blankets both male and female.
The Farmers Pitso Award is an annual event held for farmers as one way to motivate them by awarding them with presents for them to increase their produce.
