The former General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Edward Kareweh, has called for stronger government policies in agriculture, stressing that the government must ensure farmers adhere to established standards.

He believes these policies should clearly guide farmers on best practices.

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Mr Kareweh cited the "Planting for Food and Jobs" programme as an example of how government initiatives can set important standards in agriculture.

His remarks come as farmers in the Oti Region face severe crop losses due to an ongoing drought. The lack of rainfall has not only jeopardized their livelihoods but also poses a significant threat to food security in the region.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show, Mr. Kareweh said, "When the government came with the 'Planting for Food and Jobs' programme, it set a certain standard: 'Please, I want to give you seeds; I will also supply you with fertilizer. You have not been using enough fertilizer on your field. For one acre, you need this number of fertilizer bags.'

Mr Kareweh criticized the government for overpromising and underdelivering on the "Planting for Food and Jobs" programme, specifically regarding the provision of fertilizers and seeds.

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 He said that the government initially committed to providing seeds and fertilizers to farmers at a 50% subsidy, however, as time passed this subsidy was gradually reduced.

"They didn’t give a reason, it’s only when you do the mathematics that you see. They were just quiet about it. It moved from 50% to 36%, from 36% to 15%, then to almost 5%, and then  0%."