In a significant move to support women in agriculture, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has awarded scholarships to five female farmers to attend the prestigious Farm Management Winter School in Pretoria.
The intensive two-day programme, scheduled for Monday, 26 and Tuesday, 27 August 2024, aims to provide these women with top-tier business management training, with a special focus on renewable energy applications in agriculture.
The scholarship recipients, all with a keen interest in aquaponics, are poised to benefit from the various modules offered at the winter school hosted by Food For Mzansi. These modules include business management, agricultural stewardship, market analysis, people management, supply chain management, and personal and brand identity.
Ivor Price, editor-in-chief of Food For Mzansi, lauded the initiative: “This is a game-changer for these women farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.
“By equipping them with advanced knowledge and skills, Nersa is not only investing in their individual futures but also in the future of sustainable farming in South Africa. These women will become catalysts for change in their communities, promoting economic growth and sustainable practices.”
The five Nersa scholarship recipients are:
- Refilwe Mokgohloa: With a successful accounting career in the United States and the United Kingdom, she returned to South Africa to establish a thriving hydroponics cucumber business on her family’s 8.5-hectare plot.
- Roseline Mapuranga: A construction manager turned farmer, she discovered aquaponics during the Covid-19 pandemic, enabling her to provide for her family and pursue her passion for sustainable farming.
- Zandile Kumalo: She runs a hydroponics-based farm on the rooftop of a Sandton shopping mall, supplying fresh produce to local restaurants and retailers, embodying innovative urban agriculture.
- Lihle Lamola: Transitioning to farming in 2021, she manages a mixed farm in Magaliesburg, Gauteng. She explores ventures like essential oils production and hydroponics, demonstrating her commitment to diverse and sustainable farming practices.
- Devroll Legodi: Based in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, she specialises in growing a variety of vegetables and herbs, with a focus on spinach and green beans. She maintains a strict fertilisation and pest control programme, ensuring consistent and high-quality harvests, and utilises shade netting to protect her crops, enabling her to produce fresh vegetables year-round.
As these women embark on this educational journey, they carry the hopes and aspirations of their communities. The skills and knowledge they gain will not only enhance their farming operations but also contribute to the broader goals of sustainable energy and agricultural practices in South Africa, added Price.
Click here for more information on the Farm Management Winter School.
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