NEWS
Farmers’ academy graduation
A
round 100 aspirant
farmers, both men
and women, young
and old, graduated from the
Buhle Farmers' Academy near
Delmas last month, part of
the 500 students that Buhle
trains each year.
Started in 2000, Buhle offers
a range of courses in various
agricultural pursuits, the core
of which are four covering
crop production, livestock
production, poultry, and
vegetable growing.
The academy is based on a
working farm close to the
town so students gain handson experience in their chosen
field, as well as theoretical
knowledge. In addition, each
course includes an environ-
mental management
section, as well as basic
business skills.
The idea is that a Buhle
graduate will have the
necessary technical and
practical knowledge to
make a success of a
small farming venture
after completing his or Buhle director Neil de Smidt addresses the
her training. To this end graduation ceremony
an important additional
The courses offered are
component of Buhle's
residential in nature and
activities is to offer follow-up
Buhle attracts students from
support to graduates once
all over South Africa and also
they establish their busiwithin the region. The four
nesses. In the pipeline, too, is main courses last from two
a smartphone app that will
months (the poultry course)
keep graduates in touch with to nine months for the crop
the academy and one
production course. Other
another, and will be used to
short courses are also offered,
quickly offer support in the
over periods of three to five
case of problems with crops,
days, for example in project
pests, disease etc. It is also
management, tractor
expected to provide graduate operation and maintenance,
farmers with electronic access and hydroponics.
to marketing information etc.
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