The Kenyan delegation during a meeting with DARDLEA officials in Mbombela
By Kopano Dibakwane
The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs(DARDLEA) hosted a team of specialists from Kenya’s African Agricultural Technology Foundation(AATF), at Kadishe Co-operative in Matibidi(under Thaba Chweu Local Municipality) on Thursday 9 November.
According to DARDLEA, the AATF is in Mpumalanga to continue with facilitating and promoting public/private partnerships for the access and delivery of appropriate agricultural technologies, particularly in relation to sustainable use by small-holder farmers.
” With climate change impacting on agriculture, farmers are forced to adapt to changes for sustainability of their businesses. Hence, the introduction and encouragement for farmers to turn to TELA maize, which is drought and pest tolerant. The TELA maize programme started with trials done by four farmers around Matibidi, and currently about 80% of locals are using it,” said DARDLEA in a statement.
The department said that other issues discussed during the gathering include; different research findings on the socio impact of TELA maize, willingness of farmers to pay for TELA hybrid maize and gender market study.
The event was attended by local farmers, The Arc, traditional leadership, providers of mechanisation and seeds.
