By Nape Masemola
The Acting Mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality Ms. Orginia Mafefe delivers the keynote address during the Hereford Farmers graduation at Hereford farms in Elias Motsoaledi
The acting Mayor of the Sekhukhune District Municipality Ms. Orginia Mafefe applauded the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) for their continuous effort in ensuring that farmers and, the previously disadvantaged and emerging farmers are capacitated. Speaking during the Tafelkop Farmers Association Graduation ceremony held at the Hereford Farm dwellings outside Groblersdal, Mayor Mafefe emphasised the importance of training in the development of farmers. She said farmers need to obtain knowledge, learn new methods of farming to improve on their production so that they can be competitive in the sector)
Outlining the purpose of the event secretary of Tafelkop Farmers Association Mr Mashiane highlighted that the event was in two folds, the first one which was to celebrate achievements of their farmers who graduated on plant production and crop production through the Recognition of Prior Learning Programme facilitated by Tompi Seleka Agricultural College and Agri-Seta. The second part was to look at the progress and commitment made since the President of the Republic, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa handed them with Tittle Deeds as there were agreements made by various stakeholders to assist the farmers.
Sekhukhune District Director, Mr Mafora Maboa highlighted that the Department has implemented the construction of ablution facilities for the entire farm as well as renovations of the packhouse which will serve as a storage for the produce. Mr Maboa also added that plans are underway to develop the irrigation facilities for the 33 plots at Hereford since the farmers have highlighted as a challenge. The department of Agriculture of Land Reform and Rural development is currently constructing the fence for the entire farm which is approximately 160 hectares.
The acting Principal of Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture, Mr Winter Swana said Extension Officers and Farmers identified the training needs and approached the College to intervene. Mr Swana said Recognition of Prior Learning was identified as a platform to train and assess farmers.
The Recognition of Prior learning (RPL) is a process through which non formal learning and informal learning are measured and mediated for recognition across different context and certified against the requirements for credit access, added Mr Swana
Delivering the motivation and message of support to the recent graduates was Mr Braam Crotes of the Piet Citrus who congratulated the graduates and cautioned them that by graduating it does not mean that they can relax and claim that they know. “Graduating just means that there are more things to learn, and that hard work is the only way to go, and farmers must at all times strive to pursue knowledge and through trainings, the sky is the limit”, he said. Mr Crotes went further to highlight that land, capital and knowledge are the main ingredients that farmers must have and that self-contribution to the project is essential instead of grants,which is the model Piet Citrus is using when assisting farmers in mentoring. Piet Citrus is mentoring Kopano Disabled Project in Marble Hall.
