It was a sad day in Mzansi’s agriculture sector yesterday following the tragic passing of land reform champion Dr Vuyo Mahlati, president of the African Farmers’ Association (Afasa). As she would do we have continued with our mission to provide you with webinars and programmes that will contribute to the growth of the sector.
First on our list is a three-day webinar on running a profitable livestock farming enterprise. This is followed by an extension advisory webinar by the South African Society for Agricultural Extension.
Also look out for the Dutch embassy’s virtual discussion on climate smart agritech and it is also the final day to RSVP for Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela’s, rural tourism event in Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Free State.
1
Livestock webinar
Farmers are invited to attend the three-day VIRTUAL LRF STOCKMAN SCHOOL which will share insights on how farmers can run a profitable livestock farming enterprise.
The sessions will feature some of the most notable professionals in the South African agriculture sector including Dr John Purchase from Agbiz, who will be speaking on what livestock farmers can expect in the next five years and Prof. Kevin Kirkman from the University of KwaZulu-Natal who will focus on alternative grazing.
Other programme highlights include Dr Bob Weaber from the Colorado State University on the ideal cow size for your environment and prof. Eddie Webb from the University of Pretoria on production and reproduction efficiency in a profitable livestock farm.
The webinar will start at 09:00 this morning and tickets for this webinar will cost R300.
You can buy tickets online on Quicket or contact the organisers using the following email address Clint.Ockhuis@media24.com
2
SASAE webinar
The South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) webinar is kicking off this afternoon at 14:00.
The two hour session will be moderated by Dr Hlami Ngwenya of the University of Free State and the theme is professionalism towards the delivery of extension and advisory services to the last mile.
They keynote speaker will be Dr Rasheed Sulaiman, director for the centre for research on innovation and science policy. (CRISP)
Click on this link to secure your seat virtually
3
Activating rural tourism development
Deputy minister of tourism, Fish Mahlalela, will visit the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality in the Free State on Friday 16 October to engage with the spheres of government, including the sector SMMEs, on championing the recovery of tourism in general, and the activation of rural tourism in particular in the district
His visit to the district municipality is spurred by a commitment made by the department on World Tourism Day (27 September 2020) to leverage, amongst others, on its rural tourism development strategy to revive the domestic travel market.
The engagement will seek to rally local government structures and SMMEs to prioritise tourism in their master plans to drive the development of sustainable tourism economies in rural communities.
The engagement will commence at 14:00 in Bethlehem.
To RSVP contact the following people by Wednesday, 14 October 2020:
Ms. Sindi Zwane
Department of Tourism
Tel: 012 444 6612
E-mail: szwane@tourism.gov.za(link sends e-mail)
Ms. Buko Gcolotela
DESTEA
Tel: 051 400 4725
E-mail:gcolotelab@destea.gov.za
4#ClimateSmartAgri
You are invited by the South African division of the Netherlands agricultural embassy to join their mission to innovate smart climate agriculture.
They will also discuss opportunities for the collaboration of 13 companies and more than 70 agribusinesses and research institutes will attend the webinar.
If you are enticed email pre_In@minbuza.nl to join.
