…Woman Farmer Foundation offers practical and theory training
BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – “Start your journey towards becoming a climate smart agripreneur today!”
This is the call to action by the Woman Farmer Foundation to the youth. The foundation is offering youth between 18 and 35 years of age a chance to participate in the Innovative Climate Smart Youth Tunnel Production Training which will be held for three months at Sidvokodvo Rider’s Ranch.
Speaking to Eswatini Positive News, Woman Farmer Foundation Communications Officer Mpumalanga Zwane explained that the training will not be happening on a daily basis, and will cover numerous topics of value to young farmers.
“We are trying to promote that a young person can get into agriculture, farm, and turn that into a business. Many young people have memories of subsistence farming from when they were young, where they were often forced into farming activities – so it is not the most exciting thing for them to think about because they still have that picture of agriculture,” said Zwane.
“Once we make young people realise the opportunity in agriculture, then we focus on the Innovative Climate Smart Tunnel Production. The goal is to equip them with farming techniques which will help protect them from the impacts of climate change in the region, as well for them to limit the adverse effects of climate change,” said Zwane.
She added that this project will last for three months and will not be happening every day.
“As a participant you get both the theoretical side of protective farming, as well as the practical side. We take them through how you farm using shade nets and tunnels. There is also normal outdoor farming to help them compare the produce grown in the different conditions,” expanded Zwane.
Participants are not expected to have previous experience in farming, just their Form five qualifications.
The deadline for the registration is July 7, and interested members of the public are encouraged to learn more by contacting 7602 7202. Some of the topics which will be covered during the training are growing high value crops, protective farming, and agribusiness management. Participants will also gain certification, mentorship, as well as educational material on the covered topics.
May this project also include participants from age 35 to 65. Those people need this knowledge since some are retired.. some are already in the field but they lake skills.
Thank you