Farm project revamped - Limpopo Department of Agriculture

15 July - 21 July 2011
10- 15 December 2010
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Farm project revamped
Story on page 2
The LDA is the 2010 PMR Awards winners,in Gold and Silver for providing excellent
public service delivery

Farm project revamped From page 2
Premier Mr Lehlogonolo Cassel Mathale Masoga, is sandwiched Committee by the Provincial Member ANC on Youth Public League Participation Secretary Mr at Jacob Limpopo Lebogo Legislature (left) and the addresses ANC Youth League the President
(Right) community during the of Dikgale Marobala Farmers’ o Itsose Thanks at Giving Mogwadi Ceremony on July at Marobala 10, 2011. on 28 April 2011.
By Matsobane Manaka
“The infighting
that crippled
Marobala O
Itsose project to its knees for seven years
must be buried down. The Department
of Agriculture does not support anything
that threatens food security. Therefore it
is our responsibility as the department to
intervene for the interest of our mandate
of food security and job creation. But our
intervention would be carried out in
collaboration with the community of
Marobala O Itsose to ensure that the
project is managed
effectively and profitably.”
This was Limpopo
MEC for Agriculture, Ms
Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba’s
statement in response to
concerns raised in a
Standing Committee on
Public Participation
[meeting]between the
communities of Mogwadi
and the surrounding areas,
Department of Rural
Development and Land
Reform, Limpopo Department of
Agriculture,Limpopo Legislature and
Molemole Municipality at Marobala O
Itsose farm, Mogwadi on July 10, 2011.
Communities would like to see the
leadership of the Marobala O Itsose
project disbanded. This follows the
complaints in the meeting that the
project’s leadership failed to report back
to communities as mandated to. Marobala
O Itsose project has been reported lying
idle for sometimes. “Your presence as
government officials meant a lot because
15 July 2011 - 21 July 2011 -Page 2
our leaders could not inform us on any
development about this farm,” indicated
Mr Titus Mabila from MoletjieGa-
Mabitsela.
In resolving the impasse, Mr
Lehlogonolo Masoga, Committee
member on Public Participation at
Limpopo Legislature, said a task team
from government will be established to
work with community. On the same vein,
the communities should democratically
elect new committee to represent their
interest.
“ It is our responsibility as the department to
intervene for the interest of our mandate of
food security and job creation. But our
intervention would be carried outin
collaboration with the community of Marobala
O Itsose to ensure that the project is managed
effectively and profitably.”

LDA- Penn State partnership to
enhance extension services
From left to right; Mr Terri Ndove, Ms Jane Tshovhote, Ms MarliseBornman, Mr Khathu Tshikolomo and
Ms Kononani Liphadzi (seated) undertake a study visit from 6-19 June 2011 at Penn State University in USA
Five officials
By Matsobane Manaka from the
L i m p o p o
Department of Agriculture (LDA) were on a
study visit in Pennsylvania State (Penn State),
United States of America (USA) from 6 to
19 June 2011. The officialsare Mr Terrie
Ndove (General Manager for Eastern Cluster),
MrKhathuTshikolomo; Senior Manager (SM)
Emerging
(Black) and fully
established white
commercial farmers met in theVeterinary’s
offices of the Limpopo Department of
Agriculture (LDA) in Polokwane on July
07, 2011 to draft terms of reference toward
the formation of
acommercial forum in
L i m p o p o ’ s
agricultural sector.
This was a follow-up
of 22 February
meeting convened by
the MEC for
Agriculture, Ms
Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba
who desires to see a united and non-racial
commercial agriculture forum in Limpopo.
for Crop Production, Dr
KonananiLiphadzi(SM for Research
Services), Ms JaneTshovhote (Giyani
Municipality Agricultural Manager ) and Ms
MarliseBornman(Waterberg District Manager
for Advisory Services).
The aim was to establish strategic
partnership with well established institutions
The forum’s steering committee
comprising representatives from emerging
(Black) farmers, Northern Transvaal
Landbou Union (TLU-Noord) and Agri-
Limpopo amongst others was formed. A
fully fledged structure formed by various
farmer groups as well as those that did not
attend the meeting is envisaged.The forum
will deal with sustainable food security
15 July 2011 - 21 July 2011 -Page 3
and organisations in order to enhance the
capacity of extension and advisory services
linked to research and technology transfer.The
area of study also extended to farming systems
and youth development programmes.
These officials were exposed to
international experience through interaction
with the agricultural industries through farm
visits, meetings with role players and
attendance of mini-workshops. The proposed
collaboration will assist Extension Officers
to study through bursary schemes at
Pennsylvania State University, one of the
world leading universities in extension
services.
This alone may not be sufficient as the
officers would require relevant industry based
skills. Some collaboration was also initiated
locally with ZZ2 as an industry player and
the Universities of Limpopo and Venda as
major institutions of higher learning in
Limpopo. Similar working relationship with
the University of Pretoria exists. The
University of Pretoria hasindicated the
possibility of introducing some missing
aspects to the extension service through
collaboration with the Pennsylvania State
University.
Limpopo to form Commercial Agriculture
Forum
By Matsobane Manaka
issues and challenges.
Head of Department, Professor Edward
Nesamvuni reassured farmers that the LDA
is fully behind the forum. “The move by
the LDA to initiate this, serves as the true
commitment to ensure the idea gets off-the
ground”, he said.
MEC for Agriculture, Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba desires to
see a united and non-racial commercial agriculture forum in Limpopo.
The forum’s steering committee comprising representatives from
emerging (Black) farmers, Northern Transvaal Landbou Union
(TLU-Noord) and Agri-Limpopo amongst others was formed.
The LDA is facilitating the process.

Safe use of pesticides
By Matsobane Manaka
The use of
chemicals has
increased
dramatically due to the number
of people re-considering
farming as business. This can
pose health and environmental
challenges.
Concerned about safety of
employees and farmers, the
Limpopo Department of
Agriculture (LDA) Food
Production Sub-Branch
organised a two-day workshop
on the responsible use of
pesticide. The much anticipated
educational awareness was held
at LDA boardroom on July 12
and 13 targeting farmers across
municipalities from Eastern and
Western clusters.
The aim was to improve
farmers’ safety in the handling
and use of pesticides to avoid
risk to farmers themselves, farm
workers, other people, animals
and the environment. The
workshop covered all aspects
of pesticides, their functions and effect
towards their produce, people and the
environment.
A facilitator, Mr Tom Mabesa,
executive director for Association of
Veterinary & Crop Associations of South
Africa (AVCASA), said the use of
pesticides is seen as evil by those who
have limited knowledge on pesticides.
He said such people forget that “if we
stop using pesticides, we will not be able
to feed ourselves. Food will be
expensive”. He cautioned that
Announcement!!
UPCOMING EVENTS
15 July 2011 - 21 July 2011 -Page 4
irresponsible use could pollute the
environment, and could be lethal also.
Mr Luther Mkhonto, Manager at Food
Manager for Food Production; Mr Luther Mkhondo responds to questions during the workshop on the
responsible use of pesticides in Polokwane (LDA offices)on July 13, 2011.
Production Sub-Branch advised that the
responsible use of pesticides is the way
to go. However, users should ensure that
the product is registered and meets the
legal requirements.
Date; place event time
18 July Giyani Stadium Mandela Day 09h00
27 July Sandton Investor Conference 10h00
21-22 July PTA showground The black Farmers workshop