Transformation Research Projects
Projects links
- Farmer development by Grain SA
- The development and training of entry-level soy farmers and consumers with further progression to soy-preneurs level
- Addressing food insecurity by supporting economic growth for emerging farmers
- Promoting household production and processing of soybean as major source of quality protein (Limpopo)
- Farmer development by Grain SA: training
- Oil and protein seeds transformation initiative
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Farmer development by Grain SA
Summary
The Pula/Imvula is a monthly newsletter for the developing grain farmers. The purpose of the Pula is to give farmers information that will assist them in their farming. Each month there is a Pula although the details relating to the sponsors as well as the number of pages differs from month to month as can be seen in the text below.
The 4 page Pula which is sponsored by the OPDT is included in the January, April, July and October editions of the Pula. These are translated into 7 languages. In addition to the 'regular' Pula, Grain SA is distributing an additional 8 pages in the English Pula. Most of these articles are taken from the SA Grain magazine which is only available in Afrikaans. The purpose of the expanded English Pula is to make the more technical information available to those industry players who are not familiar with Afrikaans. In addition to this, the Pula is loaded onto the Grain SA website, and the individual articles are also available on the web for downloading.
Project title / Activity
A quarterly, four pages, full colour Pula is distributed to readers throughout South Africa in 7 languages (English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, IsiXhosa, Sesotho sa Leboa and IsiZulu.
Project motivation
It is necessary to have a quarterly newsletter containing information about the Oil and Protein seeds industry. The information contained in the quarterly newsletter will be according to the theme for the quarter (the same theme is used for the farmer's days, study group meetings and information sessions for individual farmers) which is related to the activities that are relevant to the season, including information on the production and marketing cycle of sunflowers, groundnuts and soybeans.
The Pula/Imvula is an on-going programme of the Farmer Development Programme. The monthly 8 page newsletter is sponsored by the Maize Trust. The quarterly 4 page sponsored by the Oil and Protein Seeds Development Trust is added to the existing Pula in January, April, July and October of each year. There is also a quarterly 4 page sponsored by the Winter Cereals Trust which is added to the Maize Pula in December, March, June and September. In addition to this, there is the expanded English Pula each month.
Measureable objectives
20 600 copies of the quarterly newsletter are distributed in South Africa, in 7 languages (English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, Sesotho sa Leboa, isiXhosa and isiZulu).
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The development and training of entry-level soy farmers and consumers with further progression to soy-preneurs level
Training on how to Use Soy in Household Kitchens and Planting in Household gardens
Eden Social Development Foundation (ESDF) trained 11 Female leaders from ACAT Trust and the eThebembeni Trust to work with women groups in the greater Uthukela and Okhahlamba District Municipalities.
Eden Social Development Foundation also assisted the trained women to do Soy in Food and Soy Planting training in different areas.
Areas Project participants
Soy in Food & Soy Planting TrainingFemale Male Okhahlamba Zwelisha and Okhombe 15-16 March (Food) 17 13 eThembeni eThembeni (Leaders Training) 26-27 April (Food) 11 4 eMathondwane eNathondwane, Burford and eMadrayeni 4-5 May 2016 (Food) 31 6 5 December 2016 (Planting) 2 6 Phayikeni eHlathini, Watersmeed, Mkumula, Mbuzini, Phayikeni, Burford, Elandeni and Mathondwane 31 May - 1 June 2016 (Food) 37 4 5 December 2016 (Planting) 1 6 KwaHlati KwaHlati, Mbangeni and Nazareth 5-6 July 2016 (Food) 41 1 29 November 2016 (Planting) 28 1 Mhlumayo Glinalishona, Mjindini, Mgudleni, Zwelisha and Enkandlo 12-13 July 2016 (Food) 36 1 30 November 2016 (Planting) 51 0 Sahlumbe KwaNomoyo, Ehlongwane, eManseleni, eHabeni, Kwa Chacacha, eMgidligidlini and eNgoleni 19-20 July 2016 (Food) 113 2 28 November 2016 (Planting) 28 0 Pomeroy Mthaleni, Ezibomvu, eKugudlukeni, Thokoza, Eduzuzingini and Endlovini 27-28 July 2016 (Food) 44 0 29 November 2016 (Planting) 41 0 Mhlakahle Sinyameni, Ezinhlonhlewi and eGujini 11-12 August 2016 (Food) 89 1 28 November 2016 (Planting) 40 0 Wasbank Ebusi and Glencoe 20-21 September 2016 (Food) 16 18 30 November 2016 4 5 Dukuza Dukuza, Cogta, Rookdale, Ezimbomva and Gorgondweni 29-30 September 2016 (Food) 50 0 22 November 2016 (Planting) 23 0 Mkhomananzana Mkhomananzana, KwaMaye and KwaNkosane 13-14 October 2016 (Food) 63 11 22 November 2016 (Planting) 46 0 KwaMaye KwaMaye 25-26 October 2016 (Food) 29 25 23 November 2016 (Planting) 14 5 Maswazini Maswazini and Mhloshana 16-17 November 2016 (Food) 51 7 17 November 2016 (Planting) 51 7 Total Participants – Food 628 93 Total Participants – Planting 329 30 Soy in Food Training
Soy Awareness Seminar
On 8 and 9 November 2016 Eden Social Development Foundation hosted a 2 day seminar at the ESDF premises. There were a total of 66 attendees: 42 female and 24 male attendees.
- There were 23 representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Bergville – 12, Eshowe – 1, Estcourt – 3, Ladysmith – 3, Mhlathuzi – 1, Cedara – 2 and Osca – 1).
- 17 community members and leaders
- 8 Grain SA representatives
- 11 co-op representatives
- 3 NGO representatives
- 4 Department of Trade and Industries representatives
Eden Social Development Foundation also hosted students from Mangosuthu University of Technology.
Soy Planting
Mr Musa Dlalisa
Dukuza Area
Mr Musa has planted soy for the past 4 years but had no success with last year's harvest due to the drought.
Eden Social Development Foundation assisted Mr Dlalisa to plant 12ha this year.
Department of Agricultural and Rural Development
Maswazini Area
Eden Social Development Foundation planted 2ha with Mr ZV Nkosi, Head of Agri Advisor Department.
Lindie Khumalo
Eden Social Development Foundation assisted Lindiwe Khumalo with planting 2ha of soy after she attended the 2-day seminar with Grain SA.
Installation
Addressing food insecurity by supporting economic growth for emerging farmers
This project will only commence during the 2017/2018 financial year.
Promoting household production and processing of soybean as major source of quality protein (Limpopo)
This project will only commence during the 2017/2018 financial year.
Farmer development by Grain SA: training
Summary
There are very large numbers of developing farmers in South Africa who have access to arable land that is suitable for crop production. These farmers range from the very small subsistence farmers who have access to fewer than 10ha; small holder farmers who have access to up to 100ha; potential commercial farmers who have access to more than 100ha, and those who are already farming on a commercial scale.
In order to farm sustainably and profitably, the farmers need access to knowledge, good production inputs and access to appropriate mechanization. The need for knowledge is great and the farmers benefit very much from the attendance of these courses.
Project Activity
Print training manuals for the courses to be presented.
Project motivation
There are a number of challenges facing the developing farmers. The lack of knowledge and skills, lack of mechanisation and lack of access to production inputs are of the greatest challenges. Through the development programme we continue to strive to reduce the challenges so as to assist farmers to make optimal use of the natural resources that they have at their disposal.
Through the training courses, we are able to take the farmers through all the aspects of production and this goes a long way to reducing the risk of failure – knowledge and understanding are vital building blocks towards success in any field.
Asureable objectives
18 production courses will be presented to developing farmers as per the table below:
OPDT March 2015 to February 2016 Course
NumberCourse Name Farmers Province Place Date 14091 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 17 Free State Bothaville 1-5 June 2015 14092 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 17 KwaZulu-Natal Matatiele 15-19 June 2015 14097 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 24 Free State Ladybrand 22-26 June 2015 14100 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 18 Eastern Cape Duytwa 15-19 June 2015 14101 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 9 Eastern Cape Maclear 6-10 July 2015 14095 Introduction to Groundnut Production 16 Free State Bultfontein 6-10 July 2015 14108 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 16 KwaZulu-Natal Ndunge Bizana 13-17 July 2015 14107 Introduction to Groundnut Production 25 Mpumalanga Malelane 13-17 July 2015 14105 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 22 KwaZulu-Natal Bergville 13-17 July 2015 14104 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 9 KwaZulu-Natal Winterton 20-24 July 2015 14106 Introduction to Groundnut Production 25 KwaZulu-Natal Newcastle 27-31 July 2015 14102 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 18 Eastern Cape Elliot 27-31 July 2015 14096 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 23 Free State Ficksburg 27-31 July 2015 14051 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 25 Eastern Cape Maclear 10-15 August 2015 14099 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 15 Free State Theunissen 24-29 August 2015 14103 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 19 KwaZulu-Natal Harrismith 24-29 August 2015 14121 Introduction to Groundnut Production 10 Free State Edenville 31-4 September 2015 14120 Introduction to Soya Bean Production 20 Mpumalanga Nigel 14-18 September 2015 15008 Introduction to Groundnut Production 24 North West Mahikeng 12-16 October 2015 Total farmers 353 Project motivation
There are a number of challenges facing the developing farmers. The lack of knowledge and skills, lack of mechanisation and lack of access to production inputs are of the greatest challenges. Through the development programme we continue to strive to reduce the challenges so as to assist farmers to make optimal use of the natural resources that they have at their disposal.
Through the training courses, we are able to take the farmers through all the aspects of production and this goes a long way to reducing the risk of failure – knowledge and understanding are vital building blocks towards success in any field.
Oil and protein seeds transformation initiative
A provision of R5 million is made for the funding of transformation projects in respect of sunflower, soybean, groundnut, canola and soyfood.
During the reporting year no funding of ad-hoc research projects in each of the mentioned categories were approved.
