VISION MISSION

UNIVERSITY FARMMr. S.B. MotsaFarm ManagerEXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe year 2010/2011 was characterized by frequentrains, two weeks non-stop at times, which madeit impossible to work in the fi elds as the soil wastoo wet to continue farming operations. Prolonged dryspells and the unreliable supply of irrigation water fromthe Malkerns Canal, particularly in the months of Augustand October, also presented challenges to the croppingprogramme. The early crops, pastures, silage and drymaize performed below expectation.New developments at the Farm, in the year underreview, were the completion of the Dalcrue Farmwater reservoir and installation of the transformers andcables for two centre pivots, while one centre pivot isstill not completed. The irrigation facility is yet to becommissioned. Students from the Faculty of Agriculturecontinue to use the Farm facilities for practical lecturesand entrepreneurship training.OBJECTIVESThe objectives of the Farm are to:Provide facilities for practical learning for students,staff and other interested parties;Provide facilities for research that focuses ondevelopment of agriculture in Swaziland and theregion;Be self-supporting through improved revenuegeneration;Foster the involvement of the University incommercial farming; andProvide extension services in its areas of comparativeadvantage.Farm StatusThe Farm is 260 hectares inclusive of cropped area andgrazing land. The cropped area is 189 hectares of whichonly 27 hectares are currently irrigated. The size of theirrigated area will in the very near future increase by120 hectares, following completion of the Dalcrue FarmProject.LIVESTOCKDairy EnterpriseThe dairy unit has 80 milking cows. The calving rate forthe year under review was 88% and mortality was 2.5%.Total milk production for the year was 379,600 litreswith an average daily production of 13 litres per cow.107REPORT OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR