SIYABONGA (dankie) landbou! SIYABONGA (thank you) agriculture!

MEDIAVRYSTELLING

23 September 2020

Die opwindende Agri-Expo inligtingsdae wat jaarliks tydens Agri-Expo Livestock buite Stellenbosch aangebied word, het ‘n nuwe baadjie aangetrek en staan nou bekend as SIYABONGA-dae. Wat dit nog meer besonders maak, is dat dié geleenthede nou in verskillende streke plaasvind en regstreeks uitgesaai word sodat boere van oraloor kan deelneem.

Die SIYABONGA-dae is daarop gemik om basiese landbou-inligting aan boere deur te gee in ‘n unieke formaat waar boere ‘n platform met kenners in die bedryf deel, die geleentheid kry om vrae te vra en sodoende met meer kennis na hul boerdery terugkeer om uiteindelik meer produktief te wees.

Die inligtingsdae was oor baie jare van die suksesvolste platforms tydens Agri-Expo Livestock en daarom is hulle opgewonde om die SIYABONGA-dae nou ná die boere toe te neem, sê Johan Ehlers, Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte van Agri-Expo. “Die Covid-19-pandemie het baie landbougeleenthede aan bande gelê en om met innoverende maniere die landbougemeenskap te bereik is nie maklik nie, maar dit is presies wat ons met die SIYABONGA-dae doen. Ons moet aanpas en die geleenthede benut wat tegnologie ons bied, maar ons moet ook mense op grondvlak bereik.

“Hoekom SIYABONGA? Siyabonga beteken dankie en wat is meer gepas as om vir landbou en die boere van Suid-Afrika dankie te sê in ‘n tyd waar landbou so baie vir ons land beteken. SIYABONGA is ook ‘n akroniem vir ‘Sharing Information to improve Yields in Agriculture for a Better-Off Next Generation of Agriculturalists’.”

Agri-Expo se inligtingsdae word sedert 2014 in samewerking met die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou aangebied en is reeds ‘n instelling by veral kleinboere in die Wes-Kaap. Hierdie sewe jaar lange vennootskap is ‘n bewys van hoe die regering en privaatsektor saam kan werk om landbouers te bemagtig. “As die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou, is ons hier om die landbousektor te dien,” sê dr Mogale Sebopetsa, die departementshoof. “Die landbousektor is die sonskynsektor wat die sleutel is tot die ekonomiese herstel van nie net die Wes-Kaap nie, maar ook vir Suid-Afrika. Ons wil graag die nodige ondersteuning bied aan ons boere om produktiwiteit te verbeter en voedselsekerheid te verseker. Die SIYABONGA-dae skep ‘n uitstekende platform om nou meer mense te bereik as in die verlede. Ons sien daarna uit om weer met Agri-Expo saam te werk.”

Volgens Breyton Milford, Operasionele Bestuurder van Agri-Expo, vind die eerste drie SIYABONGA-dae vind in Beaufort-Wes, Grassy Park en Clanwilliam plaas. “Nie net is die naam verander nie, maar weens Covid-19 wat die gewilde Agri-Expo Livestock aan bande gelê het, word die SIYABONGA-dae nou in verskillende streke aangebied om die inligting na dié mense te neem wat hierdie dae in die verlede getrou ondersteun het.”

Weens die beperkinge op getalle, kan slegs ‘n beperkte aantal boere genooi word om die geleenthede by te woon, maar boere en belangstellendes kan gratis aanlyn inskakel, vrae vra en deel wees van die gesprekke deur te registreer by www.foodformzansi.co.za/siyabonga-registration/.

Beaufort-Wes SIYABONGA-dag: Vrydag 2 Oktober, 10:00 – 13:00

Beaufort-Wes se program fokus op bestuur en voedingsbeginsels om droogtes te oorkom asook vennootskapgeleenthede in die Karoo. Dr Louis du Pisani, ‘n kenner van droogtetoestande sal die gesprek oor bestuur lei, waarna Hans Greeff, ‘n dosent verbonde aan Grootfontein Landboukollege, oor die korrekte voeding in hierdie tye gesels. Konsortium Merino en die Mohair Empowerment Trust sal samewerkingsgeleenthede bespreek.

Grassy Park SIYABONGA-dag: Vrydag 9 Oktober, 10:00 – 13:00

In Grassy Park is die programfokus op kleinskaalse boere in ‘n stedelike omgewing. Die skrywer van die boek Boer met Kleinvee, Leon Kruger, sal raad gee oor produktiewe bestuur in beperkte ruimtes. Donald Mouton, plaasbestuurder van Fairview in die Paarl, sal gesels oor watter diere in watter omstandighede aanpas. Inspirasie kom van Carol Kirkwood Pretorius, ‘n bekroonde vroueboer van die Ceres Karoo, asook van ‘n klein skool met ‘n groot landbouhart in Belhar, ‘n Kaapse voorstad.

Clanwilliam SIYABONGA-dag: Vrydag 16 Oktober, 10:00 – 13:00

Clanwilliam kan uitsien na kundiges se raad oor gemengde boerdery. Wintergrane is onder bespreking deur Graan SA waarna die fokus skuif na die voordele van wolproduksie deur die Nasionale Wolkwekersvereniging (NWKV). Daarna volg ‘n praktiese demonstrasie met riglyne oor waarna om te kyk by kleinvee asook ‘n bespreking van verskillende skaap- en bokrasse. Die bekende rooibosboer Niklaas Slinger sluit die program af met raad, inligting en motivering.

Die programme in Beaufort-Wes en Clanwilliam word in Afrikaans aangebied, maar vrae kan in Engels gestel word, terwyl die program in Grassy Park in Engels plaasvind, maar vrae ook in Afrikaans gestel kan word. Vir meer inligting, kontak Agri-Expo by 021 975 4440 of admin@agriexpo.co.za, besoek  www.agriexpo.co.za en www.livestock.org.za, en volg Agri-Expo op sosiale media.

Fotobyskrif: ‘n Groep boere tydens ‘n vorige inligtingsdag, nou bekend as Agri-Expo se SIYABONGA dae.

Photo caption: A group of farmers during a previous information day, now known as the Agri-Expo SIYABONGA days.

MEDIA RELEASE
The exciting Agri-Expo information days presented annually during Agri-Expo Livestock outside Stellenbosch underwent a transformation and are now known as SIYABONGA days. What makes it even more special is that these events now take place in different regions and are broadcast live so that farmers from all over can participate.

The SIYABONGA days aim to provide basic agricultural information to farmers in a unique format where farmers share a platform with industry experts, get the opportunity to ask questions and thus return to their farming with more knowledge and to eventually be more productive.

The information days have been some of the most successful platforms at Agri-Expo Livestock for many years and therefore they are excited to take the SIYABONGA days to the farmers now, says Johan Ehlers, Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Expo. “The Covid-19 pandemic has hampered many agricultural opportunities and to reach the agricultural community in innovative ways is not easy, but that is exactly what we are doing with the SIYABONGA days. We need to adapt and take advantage of the opportunities that technology offers us, but we also need to reach people at the grassroots level.

“Why SIYABONGA? Siyabonga means thank you and what is more appropriate than to say thank you to agriculture and the farmers of South Africa at a time when agriculture means so much to our country. SIYABONGA also is an acronym for Sharing Information to improve Yields in Agriculture for a Better-Off Next Generation of Agriculturalists.”

The Agri-Expo information days have been presented in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Agriculture since 2014 and are already an institution, especially among small-scale farmers in the Western Cape. This seven-year partnership is proof of how government and the private sector can work together to empower farmers. “As the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, we are here to serve the agricultural sector,” says Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, the Head of the Department. “The agricultural sector is the sunrise sector that is key to the economic recovery of not just the Western Cape but for South Africa.  We would like to provide the necessary support to our farmers to improve productivity, ensuring food security.  The SIYABONGA days creates a great platform to reach more people now than in the past and we look forward to partnering with Agri-Expo once again.”

According to Breyton Milford, Operations Manager of Agri-Expo, the first three SIYABONGA days take place in Beaufort West, Grassy Park and Clanwilliam. “Not only has the name been changed, but due to the Covid-19 cancellation of the popular Agri-Expo Livestock, the SIYABONGA days are now presented in different regions to take the information to the people who faithfully supported these days in the past.”

Due to the restrictions on the number of event attendees, only a limited number of farmers are invited to attend; however,  farmers and interested parties can join online for free, ask questions and be part of the discussions by registering at www.foodformzansi.co.za/siyabonga-registration/.

Beaufort West SIYABONGA Day: Friday 2 October, 10:00 – 13:00

Beaufort West’s programme focuses on management and nutritional principles to overcome drought as well as partnership opportunities in the Karoo. Dr Louis du Pisani, an expert on drought conditions, will lead the discussion on management, after which Hans Greeff, a lecturer at Grootfontein Agricultural College, will talk about the correct nutrition in these times. Konsortium Merino and the Mohair Empowerment Trust will discuss collaboration opportunities.

Grassy Park SIYABONGA Day: Friday 9 October, 10:00 – 13:00

In Grassy Park, the programme focuses on small-scale farmers in an urban environment. The author of the book Boer met Kleinvee (Farm with Small Stock), Leon Kruger, will advise on productive management in confined spaces. Donald Mouton, farm manager of Fairview in Paarl, will talk about which animals adapt to which conditions. Inspiration will come from Carol Kirkwood Pretorius, an award-winning female farmer from the Ceres Karoo, as well as from a small school with a big agricultural heart in Belhar, a suburb of Cape Town.

Clanwilliam SIYABONGA Day: Friday 16 October, 10:00 – 13:00

Clanwilliam can look forward to experts’ advice on mixed farming. Winter cereals are under discussion by Grain SA, after which the focus shifts to the benefits of wool production by the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA). This is followed by a practical demonstration with guidelines on what to look for in small stock as well as a discussion of different sheep and goat breeds. The well-known rooibos farmer Niklaas Slinger concludes the program with advice, information and motivation.

The programmes in Beaufort West and Clanwilliam are presented in Afrikaans, but questions can be asked in English, while the programme in Grassy Park takes place in English, but questions can also be asked in Afrikaans. For more information, contact Agri-Expo on 021 975 4440 or admin@agriexpo.co.za, visit www.agriexpo.co.za and  www.livestock.org.za, and follow Agri-Expo on social media.

ISSUED BY

Isabeau Botha
Corporate Communication Manager
Agri-Expo
isabeau@agriexpo.co.za
021 975 4440
072 247 5868
www.agriexpo.co.za