Farmers encouraged to uplift their emerging counterparts
The Mayor of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Maripe Mangena has called on farmers who have been in operation for some time now, to play a role to uplift the standard of production for emerging farmers within a municipal area.
LIMPOPO – Mangena addressed various stakeholders during a gala dinner held at Kharibu Lodge outside Tzaneen, that was organised to honour emerging farmers who attended an annual Tzaneen Agri-Expo held ay Tzaneen Country Lodge.
He said agriculture is a cornerstone of economy of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality.
The agri-expo was also supported by the Mopani District Municipality and this year it was a sixth year the event had been taking place.
The municipality also hosted a golf tournament on 11 October to raise funds to help support emerging farmers.
Last year, close to R100 000 was raised through the tournament and the money was used to buy seedlings for 33 emerging farmers from around the Greater Tzaneen area.
According to the mayor, they expect to raise more than R100 000 this year in order to double the number of farmers to benefit from money raised through the tournament. “Through this, job opportunities were created for the local people,” Mangena said.
He appealed to the management of the University of Limpopo to consider establishing a Faculty of Agriculture in Tzaneen as the area is a predominantly farming area.
He further indicated that as mayor he would be happy to see the Moshupatsela farm, which was bought by the district municipality, being optimally utilised to benefit the people of the Greater Tzaneen.
The director for planning and economic development in the Tzaneen Municipality, Benjamin Mathebula said the agricultural expo must keep its momentum to ensure a contribution to the economy of Tzaneen, the province and the country at large.
Mathebula also indicated that for the past six year the event was been supported by University of Venda and Limpopo, as well as Tompi Seleka and the Madzivhandila Agricultural Colleges.
