Limpopo research forum decodes areas of development in the province
Researchers from various disciplines in the Limpopo Province gathered under the banner of Limpopo Research Forum (LRF) in Polokwane to discuss ideas, outcomes, and opportunities aimed at stimulating economic development in the province
Established in 2007, LRF comprise representatives from provincial government departments, higher education institutions, TVET, parastatals, district municipalities and research institutions, including the University of Limpopo (UL).
Through this annual conference, researchers share best practices, ideas, and research trends to contribute to the development of the province in areas such as health, economy, education, agriculture and social development.
One notable researcher at this year’s conference was Professor Kgabo Moganedi a Microbiologist from UL, who shed light on avenues to move Limpopo forward through research. Her keynote address geared on the innovative Marula Fruit Wine project which left the attendees in awe. The research project, developed in 2015, is brewed from the indigenous Marula fruit, predominantly found in the southern part of Africa, including the Limpopo Province.
In her talk, Prof Moganedi emphasised that this innovation, rooted in a traditional Marula brew with intellectual property rights owned by the communities themselves, holds significant commercial value and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals of addressing poverty and creating employment opportunities.
Prof Moganedi added: “The Marula tree is a protected species, and the government has made it illegal to cut down for any other use because of their raising economic value.”
Martin Sehlapelo, Deputy Director-General of Institutional Development Support from the Office of the Premier, urged researchers to ensure that their work is relevant to the community and is effectively utilised. “We highly appreciate the collaborative efforts between the government and tertiary institutions, as they provide valuable guidance to implement services to the people. Our research should translate into practical resources that contribute to the development of 
our communities.”
Dr Wonder Juniper from UL presented on leveraging broadcasting platforms to promote precision farming for Limpopo’s economic revival, focusing on radio and television. He highlighted the shortage of accessible information on precision farming techniques and and emphasised the potential of local language radio programmes to reach a broad audience.
“There is a shortage of radio programmes dedicated to broadcasting tailored farming,” he highlighted. He emphasised that the medium should be utilised to disseminate information due to its ability to attract a large listenership. Additionally, he urged farmers to capitalise on the need to disseminate information through local languages.
Stats SA’s Nthambeline Mukwevho stressed the importance of focusing development efforts on women and youth, given that they are a majority of Limpopo’s population which consists of 6.6 million people. He also addressed the challenge of inaccurate information during census.
“Another hindrance to development is the reluctance of people to participate in surveys or the provision of inaccurate information. This misinformation impede the progress in our province as government will not be able to provide necessary services.”
Princess Masondo from the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Africa (Unisa), recommended collaboration between universities and Stats SA to derive research methodologies from census data to address prevailing challenges.
The forum also provided a platform for young researchers from UL and other institutions to present their research papers. Among them, Austin Southern, a Master’s student in Geography at UL presented on Flood risk comparison study using Fuzzy Logic and Frequency Ratio for flood Risk: a Case Study of Mamadimo Park, South Africa. The paper aimed at helping residents with methods to deal with flooding through GIS-based techniques.
By Reuben Maake