24 Sep 2015

The Department of Crop Production in Tsabong recently hosted a three-day workshop to educate horticultural farmers on basic vegetable farming practices. 

Speaking in an interview, the horticultural officer for Kgalagadi District, Mr Nigel Modisaemang, said the workshop came into being following the realisation that the  backyard garden beneficiaries  in the district lacked modern management practices among them development of seed beds, adherence to proper farming and harvesting times and others.

Mr Modisaemang emphasised the importance of adherence to best farming practices, which he said brought forth high yields and efficiency all the time.

“It has come to the fore that upon enrolment into the backyard garden initiative beneficiaries lacked fundamental skills of running a vegetable production enterprise. The workshop was a way to empower beneficiaries with the necessary skills,” said Mr Modisaemang.

 He added that training was long overdue as farmers were constantly complaining that they were not empowered through such necessary forums.

Mr Modisaemang was therefore hopeful farmers would transform the theoretical knowledge imparted upon them to increase yield. 

A total of 13 beneficiaries, under the backyard garden section were trained, three from Werda and 10 from Tsabong. Ends