Page 106 - GSA Annual Report / Jaarverslag 2013

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WHAT ARE WE DOING AND WHY? (continued)
WAT DOEN ONS EN WAAROM? (vervolg)
STUDY GROUPS
The study groups continue to be an important means of getting information to the farmers and keeping
in contact with them. The study groups have a huge number of members and there are constant
requests for the establishment of more groups.
Study group meetings are held more frequently during the quieter winter months when the farmers are
not as actively busy on the fields.
STUDIEGROEPE
Die studiegroepe is steeds ’n belangrike manier om inligting by die boere te kry en met hulle in kontak
te bly. Die studiegroepe het geweldig baie lede en daar is deurlopend versoeke vir die stigting van
nog studiegroepe.
Studiegroepvergaderings word meer dikwels gehou in die stiller wintermaande, wanneer boere nie
aktief besig is in die landerye nie.
PROVINCE STUDY GROUPS
Eastern Cape 46
Mpumalanga 32
Free State 16
North West 7
KwaZulu-Natal 13
Western and Southern Cape 5
Total number of groups and members 119, with more than 4 000 members
PROVINSIE STUDIEGROEPE
Oos-Kaap 46
Mpumalanga 32
Vrystaat 16
Noordwes 7
KwaZulu-Natal 13
Wes- en Suid-Kaap 5
Totale getal groepe en lede 119, met meer as 4 000 lede
DEMONSTRATION TRIALS AND FARMERS DAYS
We continue to plant best practice trials in the areas where the developing farmers are not exposed
to the good agricultural practices of the local commercial producers, such as in KwaZulu-Natal, the
Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The trial plots have a wonderful impact on the morale of the study group members – they realise that by
using the same equipment that they have, they are able to get a much better yield. Many of these trials
are planted by hand using a tiny hand planter, and the weed control is done using a knapsack sprayer.
Many of these farmers realise that they make the difference just by applying the information that they
have – they gain hope and confidence to plant a larger area each year.
DEMONSTRASIEPROEFNEMINGS EN BOEREDAE
Ons gaan voort om bestepraktykproefnemings te plant in die gebiede waar die ontwikkelende boere
nie aan die goeie landboupraktyke van die plaaslike kommersiële produsente blootgestel is nie,
byvoorbeeld in KwaZulu-Natal, die Oos-Kaap en Mpumalanga.
Die proefpersele het ’n wonderlike impak op die moraal van die studiegroeplede – hulle besef dat hulle
’n baie beter opbrengs kan verkry deur bloot die toerusting te gebruik wat hulle het. Talle van hierdie
proefnemings word met die hand met behulp van ’n klein handplanter aangeplant en die onkruidbeheer word
met ’n rugsaksproeier gedoen. Talle van die boere besef dat hulle die verskil maak deur bloot die inligting toe
te pas wat hulle het – hulle kry hoop en selfvertroue om elke jaar ’n groter oppervlakte aan te plant.
The trial plots have
a wonderful impact
on the morale of
the study group
members.