A Maize and Sunflower Production Farmer's Day was held in Holfontein on Mr Mokoka's farm. The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development celebrated with Mokoka and showed its support.
Through government's initiative, Mr Mokoka was issued with land in 2002. Last year he had 120 hectres of sunflower and 210 hectres of maize. This year alone he has harvested 255 tons of sunflowers and the maize is still on land. On his farm he has two permanent workers and two casual workers; during harvest and wheat control season he employs thirty females. His wish is to have a centre-pivot system on 50 hectres of land, to ensure maximum production.
Apart from running his own farm, he attends study groups where they discuss issues around farming. They also have youth projects where they share information and give guidance to the youth. He is involved with women on issues around farming and is the chairperson of the Female Farmer Awards in North West.
Mr Mokoka has been the chairperson of the adjudication panel for the past ten years. He aspires to scoop the Farmer of the Year award this year. Tshediso Phahlane a member of Youth in Agricultural Development (YAD) also attended the event to raise a few concerns to the MEC. Their concern as youth is that the municipality does not take them seriously in terms of launching youth development programmes within the area. Through his hard work, Mr Phahlane managed to get funding from an external organisation.
Together with his members they plan to employ six people who will be trained and remunerated. The individuals that they will be training will be deployed to different schools in the surrounding area where they will teach school children about farming. Their teachings will focus on climate change and energy in relation to farming. YAD's major challenge at the moment is tools to use at schools.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
5 June 2009
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gdace.gpg.gov.za/Speeches.htm)
