Climate Change Threatens Farming in Motlhabe as Rainless Seasons Continue

Goitsimodimo Gaborone

MOTLHABE – Farmers in Motlhabe say climate change is making it harder to grow crops and raise livestock as the village continues to experience long periods without rain. The changing weather patterns are threatening food security and the livelihoods of families who depend on farming.

For many years, local farmers relied on seasonal rainfall to grow maize, sorghum and vegetables. Today, those rains are becoming less frequent and more unpredictable. Dry fields, failed harvests and shrinking grazing land have become common across the community.

“We plant with hope, but the rain does not come,” said one local farmer. “Sometimes we lose everything we planted because the soil is too dry.”

The prolonged dry spells have also affected livestock. With little grass to graze and limited water sources, many farmers struggle to keep their animals healthy. Some families now spend money buying food they once produced themselves, placing additional pressure on already limited household incomes.

Climate experts warn that rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are increasing the risk of drought in many communities such as Motlhabe, which is among the hardest hit because many households depend on rain-fed farming.

Residents believe more support is needed to help farmers adapt to climate change. They are calling for drought-resistant seeds, rainwater harvesting systems, improved irrigation and training in climate-smart farming methods.

Unless urgent action is taken, farmers fear that climate change will continue to reduce harvests, increase poverty, and threaten the future of farming in Motlhabe. For many residents, bringing back resilience to agriculture is no longer just an environmental issue—it is a matter of survival.