Daniel Magwana, who has 800 citrus plants in the initial phase of his three hectare project, saw that horticulture famers faced serious challenges of electricity owing to high installation fees and monthly tariffs. Speaking during Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security tour of his farm recently, Magwana said farmers spent a fortune on electrifying their farms.
Having started his project in 2010 with the first plants put into the soil in January 2011, Magwana said he was required to pay P320,000 for a stretch of 700 m. Magwana, who is also councillor for Molalatau, said he paid over P5,000 for monthly electricity usage in his farm, claiming the fee was too hefty for farmers.
The citrus farmer, who plans on planting onions and potatoes, suggested that government could also help farmers with solar electricity, still at subsidised rates. Speaking after the tour, Assistant Minister Beauty Manake said her tour was meant to appreciate successes and challenges faced by farmers with a view to fix where possible. She said her tour would also ensure that they packaged information appropriately and identify gaps to close in the process.
[ P1 = €0.077 ]
Source: allafrica.com