WATCH: Farmers urged to follow good agricultural practices
According to Sandla, GAP is critical as it ensures that farmers produce quality products that will prolong the lifespan of people.
Ekurhuleni Agricultural College (EAC) president Qhayiya Sandla has urged emerging farmers to follow good agricultural practices (GAP) standards to produce sufficient, safe and nutritious food.
“Our population is increasing and that has made farming a lot more important. We, therefore, need farmers who will implement GAP and be able to produce good food,” Sandla said at the EAC’s agricultural show and farmers’ day event on July 8 in Cloverdene.
Agricultural exhibitions, workshops and lectures were held at the event and EAC students made presentations on different farming methods.
Established farmers and companies that specialise in farming were invited to impart knowledge on animal and plant production.
Sandla said the event was also held to enlighten the youth about farming.
“The majority of young people always run for corporate jobs because they think agriculture is for old people. We want to encourage them to pursue farming. There are only a few of us and a lot of people don’t know the kind of work we do.
“We are making farming fashionable because the next millionaires are going to come out of farming. The plan is that as young people, we produce and give back to the community.”
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According to Sandla, GAP is critical as it ensures that farmers produce quality products that will prolong the lifespan of people.
“For instance when we grow cabbage, we plant the seed into a seedling and then plant it into the ground. Throughout the process, we use chemicals and herbicides on the produce. We use organic manure as fertilizer to give back to the ground so that we have quality produce.
“When we harvest, we clean and package the product before distributing it to the community. However, if the produce is not of good quality, it’s not distributed because we don’t want anyone getting sick,” he said.
First-year animal production student Ntokonto Baloyi stated he wants to specialise in cattle farming. He said he will use the information acquired at the school to help subsistence farmers to practice GAP standards.
“I want to specialise in dairy and beef. Because food prices keep on rising, I saw a gap. I want to produce cheaper but quality cheese that will go through proper inspection channels,” he said.
Baloyi expressed concern that in most areas when animals are slaughtered, they often don’t go through a thorough inspection for injuries or infections and people end up consuming meat that’s not cleared.
“I didn’t know that an animal should only be slaughtered in an abattoir before being consumed by going to a butchery. If not, it’s not good for consumption because it didn’t go through proper inspection for scratch marks, infections or internal injuries. It’s important to dehorn cattle, sheep and goats.”
Ward 24 Clr Nicola da Silva stated that the EAC is important to the country’s food security.
“A college like this is incredibly important. We have fragile food security because farmers are selling up and farms aren’t being utilised. We need to ensure we have a good and strong food system.
“We hear about the war in Ukraine and the food shortages as a result. I believe that South Africa has an opportunity to grow food to supply domestically and to the rest of the world,” da Silva said.
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