It is another exciting day in South African agriculture! These are the top three things you should take note of happening in Mzansi’s vibrant agricultural landscapes today.
It’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, help us celebrate the men and women who toil the fields of agriculture while living with a disability.
Day two of the international trade symposium hosted by the World Trade Organization kicks off at 11:00 and a must-watch episode of an agricultural TV show shares the story of a man who went from street hawker to farmer.
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Day two of international trade symposium
The virtual World Trade Organization agriculture symposium is in full swing and day two has an exciting group of speakers lined up.
Starting off the day’s agenda at 11:00 is a discussion on international trade and the declining availability of renewable natural resources posing a serious threat to agricultural production and food systems. Global agri leaders will also look at food safety regulations.
An exciting live webcasting on agricultural trade in 2050 is also something attendees can look forward to.
Some of the speakers include Gerda Van Dijk (former director of international trade at the department of agriculture), Godfrey Bahiigwa (director for the department of rural economy and agriculture, African Union Commission) and John Clarke (director in charge of international affairs, European Commission).
To participate, please register here.
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Farming with a disability
Today marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Food For Mzansi couldn’t be more proud to celebrate the thousands of farmers and agriwrokers who passionately toil the agricultural fields of Mzansi living with a disability.
Here is a quick recap of a few beautiful stories featured on Food For Mzansi of persons living with disabilities.
72-year-old, Vuyo Tsika is a man with an exceptional, if painful, story. He lost his eyesight, taxi business and home, but instead of wallowing in self-pity, he rose up and created a thriving vegetable garden.
Read: Seeing with other senses: the story of a blind gardener
Here’s a man worthy of the title ‘mover and shaker’. Being 
born with a disability didn’t stop Avhapfani Rathando from becoming an agricultural success. The successful agri businessman is on a mission to inspire people with disabilities to create their own opportunities.
Read: ‘Wake up, create your own opportunities’ says disabled farmer
“Disability in action”. That’s the motto of Project Ithemba, a community dedicated to providing agri training to people with physical disabilities. They believe being a wheelchair user shouldn’t exclude you from agriculture.
Read: Organic food garden empowers people with disabilities
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Watch: Street hawker turns citrus farmer
In the week’s episode of the agricultural TV show Vir die liefde van die land (For the love of the land) viewers are introduced to Wayne Mansfield. After working for years as a fruit hawker, the 34-year-old decided to strap on his agri boots and become a farmer himself.
Hosts of the show Ivor Price, co-founder of Food For Mzansi, and Piet Potgieter, manager for developing agriculture at the VKB Group, visit Mansfield on his farm near Paarl in the Western Cape to find out more about his journey into the world agriculture.
In the show, Mansfield talks about never thinking that he would be a farmer, exporting his first 31 000 tonnes of lemons, farming challenges, mentorship and much more.
The episode featuring Mansfield airs this evening (Thursday 3 December) at 18:00 on VIA, DStv channel 147, with further repeats. Check the channel listings for details.
- Food For Mzansi’s daily list of interesting online events and happenings in the agriculture sector is wrapping for 2020. The feature is going on hiatus for a few weeks during silly season, and will be back in early January. See you in 2021!
