By Thato Mgoma
Despite the windy weather conditions farmers gathered at the Seochwareng circle for a farmer’s market day hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Land Reform last Friday.
The objective of this initiative was to give farmers an opportunity to display and sell their agricultural products. The farmers came from various towns such as Ritchie, Droogfontein and Kuruman.
Rosina Mohurutshane, a female entrepreneur who sells broilers, said she was negatively affected by the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
The market is slow since the outbreak and she lost a lot chickens to the influenza. Vaccines for the chickens have been added to her expenses.
“Loadshedding has also affected me negatively. I slaughtered 40 chickens to sell. I lost 38 of them because they were rotten”, she said.
Annette Plaatjies said she started her egg business without having any knowledge about chickens and had to use Google to find information. She owns chickens that lay eggs so she can sell the eggs for a living. She does her own packaging and sells her eggs in trays. Plaatjies sold all her stock she brought to the farmer’s market.
Although veld fires have a negative impact on the environment, Kgomotso Itumeleng, who produces animal feed, has made more sales because animals do not have enough grass to feed on. This means farmers buy more animal feed to keep their livestock healthy.
Tshidiso Mokwena and Phemelo Madibakwe plant carrots, onions, peppers and spinach at Molehabangwe Primary School and donates half of the vegetables to the school for its feeding scheme. They make money for themselves with the remaining produce.
Most of the farmers work from their backyards and receive no financial assistance for their businesses.
The department of Agriculture plans to host a farmer’s market monthly as a way to help farmers grow and sustain their agribusiness, said Tongwane.
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