The mandate of the University of Venda (UNIVEN)’s Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agriculture (FSEA) to collaborate with local farmers to transfer skills through experimental farms continued during the Crop Farmers Workshop and celebration of National Science Week. On 03 October 2024, more than 250 crop farmers from Collins Chabane, Musina, Makhado, and Thulamela municipalities within the Vhembe District Municipality gathered for a full-day workshop. The workshop also formed part of the National Science Week activities as it was hosted during the October National Science Week celebrations.
When officially opening the workshop, the Deputy Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, Professor Lutendo Murulana emphasised the role of the university and faculty in transferring skills to the farmers as a way of contributing to the development goals of ending hunger and ensuring food security. The workshop was divided into two sessions. The first session featured presentations from faculty experts and external speakers discussing soil and plant nutrition, climate change, smart agriculture, compliance, potential funding for small-scale farmers, and sustainable energy in the agricultural sector. The workshop was designed to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle industry challenges. The speakers were Mrs. Ratshilivha Nyengedzeni from the Department of Agriculture, Makwarela, Limpopo, who presented on enhancing soil and plant nutrition. She also discussed alternative sustainable ways of improving soil nutrition using organic fertilisers as a non-conventional approach to limit the use of expensive synthetic fertilisers. Dr Livhuwani Masevhe from the Department of Science and Innovation discussed the relationship between climate change, energy, and food security. He spoke about the importance of transitioning to precision farming by adopting advanced technologies to enhance production, improve water use efficiency, and increase farm productivity.
Prof David Tinarwo from the Physics Department in the Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agri-culture spoke about sustainable energy in farming practices. He demonstrated how farmers could generate biogas energy from farm waste and utilise the by-product as a liquid fertiliser for their crops. Mr. Makhado Nengovhela from Paulus April Consulting discussed environmental compli-ance requirements in detail. Prof Khangwelo Musetsho, as an environmental expert, emphasised that the issue of climate change is no longer a myth but a reality. He highlighted the importance of compliance for farmers to qualify for funding and further emphasised the need for farmers to look after the environment. He also shared the importance of complying with bylaws, including topics such as water rights and licensing, as well as compliance with the National Environmental Manage-ment Act of 1998 and its amendments, particularly the Environmental Impact Regulations Listing no. 1 of 2014. Mr Donald Hlongwane from SEDA explained the funding options available to support crop farmers financially and how they assist farmers by helping them develop and draft business plans. He also emphasised that farming is not just about food production but also a business.
During the second session, Professor Eric Maluta and Ms Thifheli Kutama moderated a panel dis-cussion. The session provided farmers with the opportunity to interact with experts. They were also given an opportunity to ask questions about their daily challenges as emerging crop farmers. The panel of experts included all the speakers and the following guests: Dr Ronald Nepfumba-da, UNIVEN alumni and CEO of KetroAgri Tech, a company that sells farming inputs and equip-ment. The farmers were represented by Musanda Mutulagole Nyamande from Matangari in the Tshivhase area and Mr Nthanyiseni Maumela from Makhado Municipality. Both Nyamande and Maumela thanked the university for reaching out to the farmers and encouraging them to partic-ipate in programmes like this. They emphasised the importance of looking after the environment to minimise the challenges of climate change. Mr Maumela encouraged other farmers by sharinghis successful story of planting garlic and peppers.
Dr Mlungiseleli Ganto from the Office of Technology Transfer under Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation, and Commercialisation (CEEIIC) spoke about protecting knowledge and technologies’ intellectual property (IP) and how his office assist farmers and re-searchers with commercialisation. Mr Mudau Mavhungu, an extension officer from the Depart-ment of Agriculture, encouraged farmers to adopt technology aimed at enhancing their farming production. Lastly, he thanked the farmers for responding to the university’s call for skills transfer. Each of these experts provided a unique perspective and expertise to the discussion. The faculty is planning to have more workshops on skills development, focusing on specific groups such as soil and plant nutrition, pruning, and sustainable weed control.
Prof Lutendo Murulana officially opening the Crop farmers workshop on behalf of the Executive Dean
The panel members and experts interacting with farmers during the discussion and crop farmers who attended the
workshop
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