The Free State department of agriculture held a pre-planting information day in Vrede with different stakeholders to share crucial information with farmers ahead of the planting season.
MEC Elzabe Rockman said the purpose of the day was to share the importance of preparing for a planting season with farmers. She said the department was preparing a memorandum of understanding with Seedlink, an implementing agent for small-scale farmers, which will not only focus on information and awareness but also provide training, research, and development, and link them to mentors.
“We are looking at this partnership that will help farmers to be able to get better quality seed, earlier in the season, that will directly impact their yield at the end of the season,” Rockman explained.
Caiphas Muyambo from Seedlink noted that while mixed farming is important, research has shown that farmers who fail are those who try to do everything instead of focusing on what they are good at.
“So farming less on your farm is your formula for your success. The moment you do ten crops, it means your attention will be divided into ten directions, and you are farming alone. The goal must be efficiency on your farm, compared to how big your operations are,” he said.
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Meanwhile, an agronomist from Pannar Seed, Kerry Rowlands, said farmers needed to think about the area they are farming, the risks they encounter, and the pressures they might face.
“A farmer needs to look at what they have to make this farm a success, what is the soil potential, do they have irrigation, the type of rainfall in the area of operations, and what is the budget that a farmer is working on,” she said.
Learning about seed and soil
Rowlands emphasised that the gathering offered an opportunity to engage with the farmers, highlight risks, challenges and opportunities that they can embark on; however, planning was essential before working the land.
“If farmers leave their yield too late, the yield will decline. The good time to plant is mid-October until the end of November, and that is in the perfect world. I know there could be delays; however, one must work around that planting period, as it is crucial.
“It is also important to plant in the correct depth depending on the soil type. With different types of soil, it will require adjustment; however, planting deeper is always the way to go,” she said.
A farmer attending the event, Mpesa Mopeli, said she was delighted to have attended the session, which was very insightful.
“For me, the cherry on top was being nominated to get free seeds, so it was very exciting to be part of today’s information day,” she said.
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