Food project kick-starts to empower community, fight hunger at BaKgaga Ba Mothapo community

The University of Limpopo’s (UL) Faculty of Science and Agriculture is leading a food security project in the Bakgaga Ba Mothapo community to alleviate poverty and fight hunger

The project was inspired by the generosity of Kgoshigadi Mothapo, who donated a plot of land in collaboration with (UL) and the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust for UL agriculture students to take their skills to the field and help small-scale farmers and communities advance their agricultural practice. This is one of the university’s numerous interventions aimed at transforming the province into the country’s breadbasket and beyond by addressing food security, climate change, unemployment, women’s empowerment, and education.

The food security project, which began in May 2022, includes conservation farming training. Moremadi Park village near Paledi Mall was designated as a pilot site for the cultivation of various vegetables. Currently, the project has 25 active members, the majority of whom are women, who are being trained in conservation agriculture practice such as moisture conservation (mulching), compost production for soil fertility improvement.

According to Edward Mathebula, a technician in the Department of Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering at UL and one of the project’s trainers, the project is meant to impact the community by ensuring that each household is food secure so that they can produce their own food. “Our farming method is very traditional, simple, and cost-effective because we do not need tractors, manure, or a lot of water because we practise conservation agriculture, which involves using grass or compost to shade the plants from the sun, so they do not dry out,” Mathebula explained.

Sophie Kgatle, one of the project’s trainees and beneficiaries, stated that being chosen as a community to learn about these farming methods (mulching) will allow them to produce their own food without spending a dime.

“We find this farming method to be very efficient and simple to implement because it uses less water and we do not need to buy manure or chemicals to grow our own food,” she affirmed.

Kgatle also stated that the project will aid in the reduction of unemployment because they intend to produce more vegetables to supply supermarkets and nearby communities to earn a living.

Flora Maponya, Headwoman of Moremadi Park under Kgoshigadi Mothapo, stated that this project will help most families whose men and women are unemployed. She expressed gratitude: “We are grateful to Prof. (Paulina) Bopape-Mabapa (HoD: Plant Production, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering at UL) and Edward Mathebula for coming to our community with new knowledge and educating us on this agricultural methods.”

Prof. Bopape-Mabapa, who is also the Ga-Mothapo Community Engagement Coordinator, stated that the department is excited to be part of this project. “Because of the challenges of food insecurity and climate change, which affect food prices and unemployment, this project has solutions.”

She encouraged young people to be part of this project so that it could grow and provide employment and income in the future. She stated that once the pilot was completed, the project would expand into schools in the basic education through food garden and other communities to the extent that all districts of the Limpopo province will benefit from this project.

Students enrolled in the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Experiential learning module will be a part of the project, training communities and schools across the province to encourage backyard gardens for food security. Prof. Bopape-Mabapa hopes to form a partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the near future.

By Reuben Maake