Horticulture graduates appeal for funding
Keikantse Lesemela | Wednesday April 30, 2014 12:39
During a tour of the Glen Valley hortuculture incubator facility last week, Olebile Sebego said the government should assist them in developing their projects because they are limited by lack of resources after graduation.
“After graduation you stand out as an individual but we do not have resources, if the government can provide us with resources such as water, electricity, fertilizers and seeds,” said Sebonego.
Sebonego explained to the visiting officials, including the Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu and LEA chief executive Tebogo Matome that they have learnt a lot from the incubation.
“We have been exposed to these systems and we are now the experts in this soil-less system.
But after graduation you stand out as an individual but we do not have these technologies that we are using here, so if the government can assist us with the resources or if they can consider the tenants purchase scheme for these facilities,” he said.
The Glen Valley incubator facility houses 14 clients and has three types of structures including the tunnels, net houses and greenhouse structures. The system does not use soil but seedlings are planted in plant fibres.
Moremedi Nogayagae, another graduate, concurred that they have gained valuable experience from the project.
“I am ready to continue with the project after graduation as I have been exposed to the technologies and the challenges that comes along with farming,” said Nogayagae.
Farmers said planting in the system is very effective, as they are able to harvest 40 tonnes of tomatoes in a 10 months period.
“We are harvesting two times a week and the average turnover we get is around P60,000 to P80,000 per month after all the expenses,” said Barbara Molefe.
Matome, however, noted that the long three-year incubation period has resulted in the incubator programme benefiting a limited number of farmers. LEA is thus proposing a new model in which trainees will take only one year in this facility.
“It has been proposed that the Glen Valley incubator be converted into a training-cum-profit centre, we would like the government to support this,” said Matome.
Kedikilwe said the government has plans to improve food production in the country, urging farmers to work hard to improve their production.
“This is the responsibility of individual farmers. You have to plan to produce for your children and your country and not be reliant on the government,” said Kedikilwe. He said sustainability of the country could only come from farmers if they can only fill the market gap and this is fostered through partnership.