Happy Monday Mzansi! It’s a brand-new week and many opportunities to progress, advance and develop await the agricultural sector this week.
On our radar this morning, the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services has extended written submissions into the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill to 30 November.
We observe World Food day with th department of science and innovation national research foundation (DSI-NRF) and the University of Pretoria.
The MEC in the Northern Cape department of agriculture, Mase Manopole, has extended the application period for the comprehensive agricultural support programme (CASP) as well as the Ilima/Letsema grant.
We also unpack sensory systems in the dairy sector and the early detection of mastitis in cows with the international dairy federation (IDF).
And what would a Monday be without a new edition of Mzansi Flavour digest? Keep your eyes glued to your screens for the recipe mailer in your inbox by 12:00.
1
Cannabis Bill submissions extended
The deadline for written submissions into the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill has been extended to 30 November 2020.
The chairperson of the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services, Bulelani Magwanishe, recently revealed the committee had received several requests for an extension after it had opened the process approximately a month ago.
The purpose of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill is to respect the right to privacy of an adult person to possess cannabis plant cultivation material, to cultivate a prescribed quantity of cannabis plants, possess a prescribed quantity of cannabis, and to smoke and consume cannabis.
It also aims to protect adults and children against the harm of cannabis; and provide for the expungement of criminal records of persons convicted of possession or use of cannabis.
Submissions must be emailed to cannabisbill@parliament.gov.za. Copies of the bill may be obtained from Mr V Ramaano on telephone number (021) 403-3820 or 083 709 8427, or www.parliament.gov.za
2
#FoodTalks webinar: Exploring endogenous paths to a resilient food system in SA
The DSI-NRF centre of excellence in food security (CoE-FS) and the department of anthropology and archaeology at the University of Pretoria (UP), kick off World Food Day celebrations with a digital #FoodTalks seminar on endogenous paths to a resilient food system.
In the webinar which takes place on 13 October 2020 at 12:00 experts explore the lessons embedded in Southern African food history and indigenous foods in Southern Africa. This is an important starting point for discussing and finding endogenous paths to building sustainable and regenerative food systems that can achieve food and nutrition security in the region today.
The webinar will have inputs on ongoing research in the disciplines of archaeology and food science. Register here.
Panellists include:
Prof Naushad Emmambux from the department of consumer and food sciences at UP and research leader for food processing at the CoE-FS will present research on creating palatable nutritious food from indigenous plants.
Dr Xander Antonites from the department of Anthropology and Archaeology at UP will unpack research focused on early farmers in Southern Africa and will present on the foods and organisation around food of our ancestors in the region.
The sessions are facilitated by Kefilwe Rammutla, an archaeologist working in Southern Africa on prehistoric trade and exchange networks, pastoral communities, and human and animal interaction. She lectures at UP and is completing her PhD at Yale University.
3
Sensor systems and mastitis
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) invites technical professionals, farmers, and farm advisors in the dairy sector to an informative webinar that will unpack current sensor systems in herd management of cows with mastitis or abnormal milk glands.
Mastitis has important health and economic consequences for the farmer and the cows, says the IDF, and sensor systems can help to detect abnormal milk or clinical mastitis.
Since the introduction of milking robots on dairy farms, systems have been a topic of general interest. Sensors should be able to detect clinical mastitis without the presence of a human milker.
Because of the vast amount of data sensors systems currently collect, in combination with smart algorithms, the use of sensor systems may go further and support farmers to manage udder health even better.
IDF experts on udder health have identified these situations and will propose how they could be managed.
Register here for the event which takes place on 14 October 2020 at 14:00.
4
NC funding applications extended
Smallholder farmers and land beneficiaries in the Northern Cape will have until 15 October 2020 to apply for two major funding opportunities announced by Mase Manopole, the MEC for agriculture, environmental affairs, land reform and rural development, early this month.
READ MORE: Northern Cape farmers set to benefit from these major opportunities
Manopole has once more urged emerging farmers in the province to apply for the 2021-2022 comprehensive agricultural support programme (CASP) as well as the Ilima/Letsema grant.
The Ilima/Letsema grant is targeted at subsistence, smallholder and black commercial farmers. The CASP grant will target beneficiaries of land reform, providing effective agricultural support to their immediate needs. The main objective of both CASP and Illema/Letsema:
- to create a long-term sustainability and economic viability;
- community involvement and ownership;
- target beneficiaries from previously disadvantaged groups;
- enhance national and household food security;
- provide once-off grant and not committing government to any form of direct recurrent operational or maintenance projects grants; and
- project finance support for those agricultural activities having the required level of institutional and technical support.
5
#Foodspiration with Mzansi Flavour Digest
Keep your eyes glued to your screens! The Food For Mzansi “Mzansi Flavour” weekly digest will be in your mailbox at 12:00 with your weekly dose of meal inspiration.
The carefully selected menu guide contains meals from our top chefs and cooks and has got all your meal needs covered to carry you through the week. It will only be availed to those who have signed up for it. No spam – we promise!
If you haven’t registered, no worries, sign up here to receive the recipe mail every Monday.
- Do you have an upcoming event that should be on Food For Mzansi’s watchlist? Drop us an email to diary@foodformzansi.co.za and we’ll do our best to include it in this weekday feature.
