Hunger for information and knowledge brought farmers from far and near to Kuruman to attend the Northern Cape leg of Food For Mzansi’ farmers’ days. Held on the outskirts of the Sesipi village, farmers and agriculture representatives travelled for more than two hours, some even hitchhiking to reach the venue, with a primary focus on learning the best practices for their farming operations.
Kick-starting the proceedings, Kealeboga Maamogwa, a Joe Morolong Local Municipality councillor, expressed gratitude to Food For Mzansi and its partners for providing valuable opportunities to rural farmers. She emphasised the rarity of farmers gathering in this manner to learn more, appreciating the publication’s role in uplifting especially the youth.
Opportunities appreciated
“We urge young people to seize the opportunities presented to them and make a name for themselves in a positive way,” she remarked.
Despite the challenging windy conditions, nearly 100 people attended the information day, attentively listening to speaker after speaker discussing available opportunities. Veteran farmer Mooki Baitsiwe advised young farmers to take farming seriously, stressing the importance of proper techniques, seeking assistance from relevant experts, and maintaining good practices with livestock to ensure long-term success.
“Keep records of your operations; it’s the only way to access funding opportunities and create wealth for future generations,” he said.
Making life easier
Wandile Mbonani, marketing coordinator from Khula!, encouraged attendees to download their app, describing it as a one-stop-shop for farmers. He highlighted the benefits, including the supply of necessary inputs. Carel Burger, a commercial banker at Land Bank, introduced the concept of blended finance and offered support to farmers seeking more information.
“We are here in our Upington offices, ready to engage with farmers. In our province, 99.9% of blended finance applications have been successful. We provide screening, mentorship, and site visits; the final selection is done at the head office,” he explained.
Tsile Mariba from MSD Health spoke about the positive impact of vaccines on livestock and the importance of farmers understanding their benefits. Lucia Mokgoje, an international relations specialist at the national department of agriculture, rural development and land reform, discussed fostering partnerships for African agriculture. She highlighted the potential for intercontinental trade and identified the Northern Cape as a focus area for their services.
Nurturing relationships
Sehularo Sehularo, the Saamtrek Saamwerk Northern Cape coordinator, emphasised the importance of nurturing the relationship between farmers and the department. He called on the government to provide better services, especially in rural farming areas.
Meanwhile, Maungo Mokgoje, the farmer who hosted the Food For Mzansi event, expressed appreciation for the attendees’ active participation in the enlightening sessions focused on improving farming practices.
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