On July 31, 2024, the Farm Manager, Ms Thifheli Kutama, and her team, partnered with the UNIVEN Advancement Unit to donate fresh produce from the Experimental farm to the Thoho ya Nzie wel-fare programme. Thoho ya Nzie is a welfare programme established by the University to support unfunded indigent students with food and other necessities. The partnership has the full support of Prof Natasha Potgieter, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agricul-ture. The management of the indigents database falls under the Student Counselling Unit.
The image above shows Experimental Farm Manager Ms. Thifheli Kutama and her team members, Mr. Khangwelo Selapyane and Mr. Rendani Lepaka handing over farm produce to Dr. Gloria Dama and Dr. Morongoa Takalani from Thoho ya Nzie welfare group
Currently, over 55 certified indigent students receive food parcels every month, however, the number of students seeking assistance exceeds 100. The programme relies on donations to maintain a food bank and sometimes needs more resources to replenish. This prompted the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture to donate farm produce from the experimental farm in response to the call for support. The donation consisted of 80 trays of eggs, vegetables, and freshly harvested tomatoes from the hydroponic tunnel at the Experimental farm.
This Faculty is committed to contributing to food security in response to the global mandate of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG) from the United Nations for 2030 to end hunger. The aim is to achieve zero hunger, eliminate malnutrition, and address food insecurity. Student centerdness is central to the University’s commitment and not only includes teaching students to equipping them with skills, fostering collaboration, and co-creating solutions for our communities, but also to reach out to all needs within the student community.
The experimental farm provides academic and research support to undergraduate and postgraduate students and various staff members of the University of Venda (UNIVEN), the communities in the Limpopo province as well as researchers and academics from other institutions.
The farm consists of different livestock units, including pig production, poultry production, small stock production, and beef production. UNIVEN students learn to produce eggs, broiler chickens, porkers, and fattening beef cattle for meat production. The crop science units include orchards where students grow various seasonal vegetable crops, a nursery, hydroponic tunnels, and a greenhouse where crops are produced in a controlled environment. Students who are studying agriculture get the opportunity to practice on the farm after completing theory lessons. Research is also conducted on the experimental farm. Entrepreneurial skills are transferred to students through practical and research activities, teaching them about the complete food value chain and food security. The farm produce is sold to the university community to support these educational initiatives.
Trays of eggs, vegetables, and tomatoes from an experimental farm donated to the Thoho ya Nzie welfare programme.
The image above shows fresh tomatoes growing in the hydroponic tunnel at the experimental farm
The image above shows the Experimental Farm Manager, Ms Thifheli Kutama, at the Piggery unit
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Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
