Potato South Africa and University of Pretoria Community Training Initiative
Potato Pathology Training for Elandskraal, Strydkraal, Tlou Kone Kwena, Ikageng and
Mbahela
Potatoes South Africa and the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of
Pretoria recently ran two 2 day training courses for farming communities on the
Integrated Management of Potato Diseases in collaboration with the Limpopo
Department of Agriculture. A third training session is planned for the Tswelopele
Irrigation Scheme later in June.
This project aims to impart skills to involved farmers within the potato producing
community farming enterprises, thus contributing to job creation in the agricultural
sector. This will reduce production risks of the potato industry, thus contributing positively
towards the sustainability of the community farming initiatives.
This project is in alignment with the University of Pretoria’s Agricultural Faculty Plan for
2009 – 2012, aimed at increasing the focus on Community Engagement Projects. This is
the first project of this kind in the Dept of Microbiology and Plant Pathology at the
university, and is intended to set an example and pave the way for more such
initiatives.
Expected outcomes for this programme include the delivery of quality training to
farmers from Elandskraal, Strydkraal, Tlou Kon Kwena, Ikageng and Mbahela irrigation
projects, build capacity of farmers by offering potato specific technical skills and
generic business skills through short courses thereby expanding their skills to focus on
decision making and the understanding of their roles within a business structure and
finally to establish a culture of training and development in resulting in continuous
improvement within their agricultural enterprises.
An ultimate goal this programme will deliver is to improve the quality and reduce risks of
potato production by improving the knowledge base of potato farmers thus
contributing positively towards the managerial capability and capacity of new farmers,
to enable them to operate independently post current commercial farmers’ exit.
The training programme delivered potato related training on crop production
fundamentals as well as pests and diseases in potato production and an integrated
approach to their management.
The workshops was presented in a hands-on format with field visits made to potato
fields