This week in agriculture, we celebrate World Water Week with related events exploring fish-friendly irrigation systems and resilience building. There is also a discussion on fodder trees and Food for Mzansi’s own food security webinar. Have a look at this rundown of all the agriculture events and opportunities for the next seven days. Email info@foodformzansi.co.za to have your event added to our weekly calendar.
Happy Monday, Mzansi! We are nearing the end of the month and as usual, we have scoured the agricultural landscape for opportunities you can look forward to this week. Get comfy in your seat because, once again, the online agri-space is buzzing.
We kick off your week with Food for Mzansi’s own #FarmSpaces event on Twitter. This Monday, both aspiring and experienced farmers can join us to learn more about saving one of farmers’ most crucial partners in the insect world – bees.
Also join our webinar this Wednesday to discuss solutions to our food system problems, as the issue of food security becomes more and more pressing in our constantly changing climate.
ALSO READ: Webinar explores food security and social stability
Monday, 23 August
Join us for this week’s Food For Mzansi #FarmSpaces, with Gugulethu Mahlangu
Are you an aspirant farmer looking for more information on how to get into the agricultural sector? Do you have a smartphone and a Twitter account? Join us then, every Monday at 18:00 for Food For Mzansi #FarmSpaces, held in partnership with one of agriculture’s favourite daughters, Gugulethu Mahlangu. This week, we tackle the topic of beekeeping, which can be done as a hobby or as a large-scale enterprise. This is definitely a Space you do not want to miss.
Follow us at @FoodforMzansi to participate.
World Water Week 2021
Taking place between 23 and 27 August, this year’s World Water Week is themed “Building Resilience Faster”. The week-long event will take place online, with over 300 digital sessions scheduled in every time zone. It will also feature a broad mix of scientists, activists, students and other interested parties.
For more information on how to participate, click here.
Tuesday, 24 August
Learn more about fish-friendly irrigation
As part of World Water Week, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is hosting a webinar to explore challenges and opportunities for fishery integration in irrigation. Aquatic foods from inland fisheries play an important role in the nutrition of at least 200 million people worldwide.
To join the discussion, click here.
Get insight into sustainable farming in Africa
Hosted by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), this webinar seeks to interrogate the practical experiences of farmers around developmental narratives like regenerative agriculture, agroecology and sustainable intensification. These narratives are often competing but through sharing information, a platform can be created to determine best practices for sustainable farming.
To participate, click here.
Wednesday, 25 August
Food security in South Africa
Food for Mzansi, in partnership with FairPlay, is hosting a webinar to explore the issue of food security in the country. Just last month, South Africa witnessed some of the most destructive riots the country has seen in recent years. The destruction of production and retail infrastructure was a reminder that, even though South Africa is considered food secure on a national level, household-level poverty remains widespread. In this webinar, experts will unpack how the issue of food security could be resolved.
To register for this webinar, click here.
Making leaf meal from fodder trees
Hosted by Feed the Future, this webinar delves into the benefits of growing fodder and provides detailed instructions on how to create fodder to feed livestock using leaf meal.
To register for the event, click here.
Thursday, 26 August
Learn more about regenerative agriculture
RegenAg SA is hosting a series of three-day regenerative agriculture workshops across the country, starting this Thursday. The workshops will be presented by Joel Salatin, with the first being held on Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. Another three workshops will be held in the month of September.
For more information, email info@permacultureinstituteforsouthernafrica.org.
Unpacking climate finance for sustainable agriculture
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is hosting the second webinar in a series on financing sustainability efforts in agriculture. This Thursday’s webinar takes place under the theme “TerraFund and Smallholder Forestry Vehicle” and sets to explore potential solutions that drive public and private investment on climate change in emerging economies.
For more information, click here.
The Maluti Group is hosting a Bonsmara auction
With 250 animals on offer, the Maluti Group Bonsmara auction is taking place at the Marquard Golf Club in the Free State. Included in the auction are 200 female production animals and 35 bulls. The animals are in various stages of production.
For more details, click here to view the flyer.
Friday, 27 August
Discussing the link between antimicrobial resistance and access to safe water
As part of World Water Week, the Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative (SIANI) is hosting a webinar on the links between climate change, access to safe food and water, and infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Topics included in the discussion are human health in relation to climate, water and AMR, and environmental health through the lens of climate, water and AMR.
For more information, click here.
Government land to lease in Limpopo
The department of agriculture, land reform and rural development has opened up applications for the leasing of land in Limpopo. Women and young people who are interested in starting smallholdings can apply to lease the land for the use of crop farming and livestock production. Infrastructure on the property includes 15 drinking troughs and 1000ha of arable land.
To obtain application forms, email Tloporo.Mojapelo@dalrrd.gov.za or takalani.matamela@dalrrd.gov.za.
