This week’s agricultural events include permaculture training, saving the date for an aquaculture programme, a soybean symposium, an Agricultural Research Council hydroponics production course, and a farmers’ day celebrating Youth Day in North West. To include your event on the Food For Mzansi calendar, please email info@foodformzansi.co.za.
Greetings farmers
We start our week with the Seeding Futures permaculture two-week course, followed by Stellenbosch University’s aquaculture and management programme. The Soybean Symposium will delve into the pros and cons of the commodity.
As the week progresses, you will need to save a date for the hydroponics short course by the Agricultural Research Council. Lastly, in preparation for the long weekend, a farmer in North West will host a farmers’ day to celebrate 16 June and highlight the importance of youth in agriculture.
Monday 09 June
Permaculture Course
There will be a two-week intensive training course focusing on understanding permaculture principles, ethics, permaculture design, organic and mixed agriculture, water management, energy systems, integrated pest management, understanding soil and improving it.
Where: Seed Abundance Centre, Rocklands, Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town
When: 9-20 June
For more information, contact 063 979 1422.
Tuesday 10 June
Aquaculture Training
Stellenbosch University’s faculty of agrisciences invites applications for the aquaculture production and management programme. Running from 1 July 2025 until 31 May 2026, this programme promises to equip participants with essential skills in a number of aspects related to aquaculture.
They encourage applicants to grab this opportunity to help address food security and environmental sustainability through responsible aquaculture.
For more information, contact Lorette de Villiers at lorette@sun.ac.za.
Wednesday 11 June
Soybean Symposium
Join the Soybean Symposium for insightful presentations, focusing on the Brazilian soybean industry, the future of the SA soybean industry, Sclerotinia management, Rhizobia and seed treatments, and a panel discussion regarding new cultivars and technology.
When: 29 July 2025, at the CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria and 31 July 2025, at Nampo Park in Bothaville.
For more information, contact Yvette Papadimitropoulos at admin@proteinresearch.net.
Thursday 12 June
Hydroponic Course
Join the ARC’s intensive vegetable and hydroponics production Courses or the potato production short course at Roodeplaat. Learn from experts, gain practical knowledge, and grow your agribusiness.
When: 14 – 25 July 2025
For more information, contact Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za.
Friday 13 June
Youth Day Farmer’s Demo Day
The theme of this farmers’ day will be “Revolution in the Soil: Youth Rising Through Agriculture”. The event will seek to honour the 1976 youth by showcasing what they never had access to: farming, agri-tech, and real opportunities in the sector.
On the day, there will be drone spraying demos, mechanisation (Massey Ferguson tractors), Absa presenting on blended finance, plus AGT Foods and AGDA involved.
Where: Groot Marico, North West
When: 16 June
For more information, contact Nkosana Mtimkulu at 060 618 1910.
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