The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union is looking for the province’s top young farmer. The organisation has just announced that entries for its Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year competition are open.
The winner will not only get top honours in the province but will also represent the outstanding work taking place in the province’s agricultural sector in the 2022 Toyota SA/Agri-SA National Young Farmer of the Year competition.
Farmers or farming partners, male or female, who are under the age of 40 and members of Kwanalu may enter the competition.
“We encourage all of our young farmers to enter this year,” says Kwanalu CEO Sandy la Marque. “They are the future of this country’s food security and should be honoured.
“This competition highlights the great skill and entrepreneurial spirit required to be a successful farmer and we have no doubt that in KwaZulu-Natal, we have a large number of potential candidates.”
Technical production, labour philosophy, community involvement and marketing are also among the criteria that will be reviewed objectively and scientifically by a provincial and national evaluation panel of experts.
Entries for the Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year competition close on 4 August 2022. For more information and to enter, visit www.kwanalu.co.za.
It’s all systems go for Nampo Cape
The dates are set for the Western Cape edition of the well-known Nampo agri expo.
From 14 to 17 September, visitors to Bredasdorp can expect more than 500 exhibitors, the BKB Merino Classic national championships, the Toyota SA Young Auctioneers competition, the Omnia farmer plans competition, agricultural trials and demonstrations such as sheep shearing, wool processing and taxidermy, and candid conversations on current topics.
According to Henk Aggenbach, chairman of the Bredasdorp Park board, many changes have been made to Bredasdorp Park in the past two years. Among the changes is the BKB Livestock Centre where the BKB Merino Classic and the Overberg Youth Show will take place.
The Water Wise Centre, where soilless production methods such as hydroponics and aquaponics are demonstrated, has also moved to a new, larger home on the premises. The Santam Auditorium has been converted into two separate venues while the Engen 4×4 track was expanded to include an extreme 4×4 section.
All food stalls will either be run by schools or non-profits, or private companies that run food stalls will have to donate a portion of their profit to charity.
Learners are invited to take part in the Overberg Regional Youth Show and learners with Agriculture as a school subject and an interest in agriculture as a profession are invited to participate in the Nampo Cape Schools Programme, which will be presented in collaboration with the Western Cape department of agriculture.
This programme will include, among others, vertical production systems, plant and soil research trials, animal production, grain marketing and careers in agriculture.
Tickets are available online at www.ticketpros.co.za.
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