Buhle Farmer’s Academy has launched a school nutrition programme (SNP) to train 500 community farmers across Mpumalanga. The initiative is made possible through Bayer’s reaffirmed support to the academy and forms part of its ongoing commitment to advance nutrition and health.
The programme, which was officially launched on May 4, 2023, at Delpark Primary School, will train farmers and build infrastructure to produce eggs to be supplied to school learners.
Various schools will be selected as part of this initiative where permanent structures will be erected to supply eggs to learners for years to come.
Training of farmers and poultry infrastructure
According to Nyiko Maluleke, CEO of Buhle Farmer’s Academy, the two main goals of this project include the training of 500 community farmers in different farming courses.
“And to establish poultry infrastructure with the capacity to ultimately supply 750 000 eggs to over 11 000 learners in primary and high schools across Delmas in Mpumalanga,” Maluleke said.
Projects that can change lives
Both Bayer and the Buhle Farmer’s Academy believe that adding eggs to a child’s diet can reduce the risk of undernutrition, and provide complete protein and several micronutrients critical for growth and development.
And according to Parusha Pillay, B-BBEE manager at Bayer in South Africa, the programme is another step in addressing food security. “As well as promoting good nutrition to learners attending schools in under-resourced communities.”
Buhle Farmer’s Academy trains and supports new farmers from across South Africa to run farming businesses that are both profitable and sustainable. The farming and management skills they offer alleviate poverty by creating jobs while helping to ensure food security.
The head of public affairs, science and sustainability for Bayer Africa said ten years from now, the impact of what they have started will still be there, continuing to touch the lives of these children and their communities and inspiring them.
“More than Bayer being the funder, we are partners in purpose to inspire others to come on board on this project and others like it in other communities, sustainable projects that can change lives,” Tembe said.
Teaming up to upskill farmers
Since it opened its doors in 2000, Buhle Farmer’s Academy is reported to have trained over 6 000 emerging farmers in vegetable, crops, poultry and livestock production, and mixed farming. 50% of those trained are women and 65% are youth and it has helped to create over 12 000 jobs.
“Smallholder farmers have a significant role to play and make an enormous contribution in terms of rural income and household and community food security,” Pillay pointed out.
She added that providing skills, guidance and opportunities through sustainable programmes such as this can further empower hundreds of farmers and add nutrition to the daily diet of thousands of learners.
In line with Bayer’s vision of health for all, hunger for none, Pillay said they are proud to partner with Buhle Farmer’s Academy on this groundbreaking initiative.
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