More than 100 farmers from across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape are set to benefit from a series of masterclasses presented as part of the Farmer’s Inside Track Summit on Tuesday, 29 and Wednesday, 30 November at the Graham and Rhona Beck Skills Centre in Robertson.
“The summit paves the way for a new era in farming,” says Ivor Price, Food For Mzansi’s co-founder and editor-in-chief. “In an exciting day-and-a-half programme, it will empower them with knowledge, resources and connection.”
Registration has officially opened, but organisers caution that only 100 farmers can be accommodated. Besides the masterclasses, attendees can also look forward to insightful talks and robust discussions presented by the who’s who of agriculture.
“The summit follows hot on the heels of the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba attended by more than 300 farmers and agripreneurs in Gauteng last month. At Food For Mzansi, we have since been inundated by farmers in the coastal provinces who are equally hungry to take crucial steps towards profitability and sustainability in the agriculture sector.”
While the programme for the Farmer’s Inside Track Summit is being revised, Food For Mzansi can confirm a series of masterclasses which will be presented during the event.
Accelerating mechanisation in South Africa
Urbanisation, increased food demand, rising rural wages, and seasonal labour bottlenecks have accelerated the trend of agricultural mechanisation in sub-Saharan Africa. While agricultural transformation is imperative for growth and poverty reduction in Africa, progress has been elusive. Can mechanisation be the big game-changer?
Farmers and business management 101
Being a good farmer gets you in the game. Being a great manager makes you win it. Yet, many agriculturists seem to neglect the managerial skills and knowledge needed to run better businesses. They are also unaware of how education and training opportunities for their workforce, and even compliance surrounding employer injury on duty claims management, can boost their businesses.
Financing for farming businesses
Cash flow and financing is just as crucial as access to water to a farming business. Convincing banks and other financing institutions to support you can sometimes feel like praying for rain. The good news is that there are things you can do to show financiers that you are fundable. Learn how to find the funding opportunities that fit you, present your business case and make the strongest application you possibly can.
Regenerative agriculture and you
In today’s conventional farming approach, crops and livestock production are typically kept separate. However, with regenerative agriculture this is combined in circular ecosystems; essentially, the animals feed the plants, and the plants feed the animals. Regenerative farmers report seeing input costs go down over the long run, without sacrificing yields.
Understanding agricultural insurance
Weather-related risks often thwart agricultural productivity gains especially in the face of climate change. Agricultural insurance serves as a reliable risk mitigation instrument for coping with climate-related hazards. This notwithstanding, agricultural insurance penetration among South Africa’s up-and-coming farmers remains low.
Pesticide knowledge and safety practices
The unsafe and indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to the environment and human health. In this masterclass, attendees will gain insights into best practices regarding the safe use of pesticides. This, amid concern that farmers’ level of knowledge of pesticide safety is insufficient. Many do not read or follow pesticide label instructions, nor use personal protective equipment when handling pesticides.
Workplace safety in agriculture
Much agricultural work is, by its nature, physically demanding. The risk of accidents is increased by fatigue, poorly designed tools, difficult terrain, exposure to extreme weather conditions, and poor general health, associated with working and living in remote and rural communities. These problems are compounded by the fact that working and living conditions are interwoven. Up-and-coming farmers, waged workers and their families live on the land where there is much environmental spill-over from the occupational risks mentioned.
Food safety compliance
Food safety is critical and your farming operation must meet local and international standards. We break down the importance and key considerations of GLOBALG.A.P. certification while also exploring key agricultural practices every farmer should follow. GLOBALG.A.P. is the internationally recognised standard for farm production. The goal is safe and sustainable agricultural production to benefit farmers, retailers and consumers throughout the world.
Drip irrigation efficiency
Enhance your understanding of irrigation techniques and learn to maximise crop yields with this irrigation masterclass. It will provide you with the skills to optimise your irrigation system and improve water efficiency. The method you choose to irrigate your crops can be the key to achieving commercial success.
Opportunities in the deciduous fruit industry
The deciduous fruit industry has the potential to change the face of rural economies in South Africa. Yet, it remains notoriously difficult for new entrants to gain access given its capital-intensive nature. We discuss ways to increase the participation of black farmers throughout the value chain while increasing the deciduous fruit industry footprint in provinces across the country.
How to register for the Farmer’s Inside Track Summit
Tickets for the Farmer’s Inside Track Summit cost R550 (excl. VAT). The programme on both Tuesday, 29 and Wednesday, 30 November is from 09:00 to 17:00. Lunch as well as coffee, tea and snacks are included on both days.
For enquiries, call 021 879 1824 or email info@foodformzansi.co.za. To exhibit, email sales@foodformzansi.co.za.
