On a Thursday like this we say cheers to another opportunity to toil and work the land that feeds us. Today, the cameras of an agricultural show follow the life of a Free State farmer who has dedicated his life to boosting the next generation of black farmers.
Also under our agri spotlight are available bursaries for full-time students from the department of environment, forestry and fisheries, followed by a webinar on agroecology in the southern African region.
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Tv show meets a farmer working for inclusivity
The third episode of the wildly popular agricultural show Vir die liefde van die land (“For the love of the land”), documents the beautiful story of a Free State farmer who is working hard to mend relationships.
After a life-changing moment that turned his own world upside down, livestock farmer Wessel Bibbey took it upon himself to press the reset button and do things differently. Today he actively works to boost the next generation of black farmers.
The episode featuring Bibbey airs Thursday, 15 October at 18:00 on VIA, DStv channel 147 with further repeats on Fridays at 00:00 and 06:00 and Sundays at 20:00.
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DEFF bursaries for full-time students
The department of environment, forestry and fisheries is inviting full-time students to apply for bursaries, to be awarded in the 2021 academic year.
Consideration will be given to the previously disadvantaged and people with disabilities who are South African citizens and have successfully completed their first year of undergraduate study. Those who are currently registered for postgraduate studies will also be considered.
The maximum amount of the bursary is R40 000 and it is available for the following fields of study:
- Chemicals and waste management;
- Regulatory compliance and sector monitoring;
- Climate change, air quality and sustainable development;
- Biodiversity and conservation;
- Oceans and coast;
- Environmental programmes;
- Forestry; and
- Fisheries.
For more information, click here: Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Bursaries
Bursary application forms are obtainable at www.environment.gov.za or Pretoria: Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Street, Cnr Steve Biko and Soutpansberg Road, Arcadia, Pretoria or Cape Town: 63 Strand Street, 13th Floor Nedbank Building, Cape Town.
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Calling future leaders of the agroecology movement
In July 2021 the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) partners will be running a one-month in-depth course on Agroecology in the southern African region. Leading up to the course they are hosting three free introductory webinars, the first of which kicks off today.
Webinar one is themed: “Why Agroecology? What Agroecology means and covers.” The webinar promises to be an interactive session starting from 12:00 to 14:30, with ‘home work’ for participants to start experimenting and applying knowledge discussed during the webinar.
Webinar two will take place Thursday, 12 November and is themed: “Understanding Agroecology as a science and a practice; putting agroecology principles into practice on the land”. The final webinar happens on Thursday, 3 December and is themed: “Agroecology as a social movement aiming to transform food and farming systems”.
This series of introductory webinars is aimed at agricultural practitioners, food activists, farmer leaders, and anyone else who would like to contribute to a healthier food system and environment, and become an agroecology advocate in their community.
To sign up for the three free introductory webinars on Agroecology Contact: ruby@seedandknowledge.org
