In line with our “new normal”, South Africa’s agriculture events have mostly moved online this week. Events include a discussion on climate science and how it can help humanitarian efforts, as well as a call for applications from the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development for its annual bursary awards. Here’s a rundown of informative agriculture events and opportunities for the next seven days. E-mail info@foodformzansi.co.za to have your event added to our weekly calendar.
Your favourite seat remains the venue while you participate in this week’s agriculture events.
As always, we start the week off with Food for Mzansi’s own #FarmSpaces event on Twitter. This Monday aspiring farmers can join us to celebrate the contributions of women to the agricultural sector. For those more interested in the research aspects of agriculture, register for a Fish4Thought webinar exploring how young people subsist within the aquaculture space.
Check out the calendar on Food for Mzansi’s homepage as well as this weekly article, published every Monday, giving you the low-down on informative, useful and even lucrative opportunities in the agriculture sector. Email info@foodformzansi.co.za to add your event to the calendar.
Monday, 9 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.
In celebration of Women’s Month, this week’s topic is women in farming. On the panel is Ipeleng Kwadi, Prof. Lise Korsten, Kamo Bombe and Tamsin Davids.
Follow us at @FoodforMzansi to participate!
Exploring ways climate science can inform humanitarian intervention
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is hosting an eight-part webinar series around climate science and how it can be used in peace-building efforts across the world. The first webinar in the series takes place this today, and features Mark Leon Goldberg.
For more information on how to take part, click here.
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Apply for a bursary through the department of agriculture
The department of agriculture, land reform and rural development has opened up applications for bursaries in the agricultural and related sectors. Students looking for funding for their tertiary studies can apply for a bursary for the 2022 academic year. Applications close at the end of October 2021.
Click here to view the application process.
Tuesday, 10 August
World poultry body celebrates its centenary
The World Poultry Congress (WPC) is celebrating its centennial anniversary. The celebration is being held by the French branch of the organisation. The WCP was first organized for the first time in 1921.
For more on the World Poultry Congress, click here.
Wednesday, 11 August
Buy some Merinos from the comfort of your home
Farm Heuningskrans in Smithfield in the Free State province is having a Merino sale, with over 290 animals on offer. The sale includes 80 horned and polled rams, 200 young females and 15 Dormer rams. To enquire about the sale, you can contact Eduard Prinsloo on 071 437 6529, Danie Strauss (BKB Auctioneer) on 072 585 4028, Jan Joubert (BKB) on 082 573 4980, and Dirco Bezuidenhout (BKB) on 082 448 6390.
To take part online, click here.
Thursday, 12 August
Mielieboere Bonsmara Group’s 32nd production auction
Mielieboere Bonsmaras is having their 32nd production auction this today in Viljoenskroon in the Free State. Close to 300 animals are on offer and participants are able to take part in person, as well as online. Potential bidders can register on both SwiftVee and CDP Auctioneers.
For more information, contact Laurence Allem on 083 259 2818, Eduard Roux on 082 332 6030, or Jerome Gossayn on 082 900 3094. Click here to view the challenges.
Fish4Thought: Youth in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture
Thursday, 12 August is International Youth Day and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is hosting a virtual learning session, launching their new research brief entitled “Youth in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture”. The launch will unpack research around the livelihoods of young people in aquaculture, as well as opportunities available to them.
For more information, please click here.
Friday, 13 August
Goat Farming Workshop
Amandla Omnotho, in partnership with Invest-a-Goat Farming (IVG), Qhakaza Goats Association, and Ndlebenkomo Goats Genetics, is holding a goat farming workshop today in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal. The workshop features Sizwe Thusi from IVG, Gugulethu Xaba from Amandla Omnotho, and Mpendulo Mbatha from Qhakaza Goats Association. Topics under discussion include goat breeding supply chain opportunities and goat supplying.
For more details, send your queries on WhatsApp to 0730460494. Click here to register.
ALSO READ: Goat farming: Here’s how to get started
Last day to apply for the Africa-Asia Business Partnership Forum
It’s your last day to apply for the Africa-Asia Business Partnership Forum, held in partnership between the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (UP-GIBS) Entrepreneurship Development Academy (EDA), Akita International University in Japan, and Michigan State University in the USA.
There are only ten spaces available, and successful participants get to expand their agriculture-related entrepreneural skills through collective learning and co-innovation. The forum is fully funded and successful applications have the chance to travel to Japan for up to three weeks, as part of the program.
Applications close at midnight.
Apply here.
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