Department starts closing farmer-training centres
The provincial department of agriculture is to start limiting the extension services it offers farmers.
NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration (Dardla) offers farmers education and veterinary services through its satellite offices. It is to start limiting its extension services.
It decreed in July that these centres were to be closed. One service centre would remain operational in each municipality and district office. “All offices that are not listed on this memorandum should be closed in August and all services terminated by September 30, except in cases where notice to terminate is beyond one calendar month,” read the notice that was revealed by the DA. It was signed by Ms Nelisiwe Sithole, head of the department on July 31.
In Mpumalanga's four districts, a total of nine satellite offices had been closed at the time of the notice being signed, and another 13 were proposed to be closed. Those that would remain open in Ehlanzeni were the district office in Nelspruit and the offices in Mbombela, Mjindi and Nkomazi municipalities. According to Mr Hennie Laas, main manager of Mpumalanga Agriculture, the organisation was not consulted about the decision, and no reasons were provided.
He surmised that it was a cost-cutting measure. He also said as things stood before the closures, the agricultural sector was not getting the service and support from the department which it expected.
Laas said the closure would affect education more. “The ones who need education the most are emergent farmers. How is diminishing the service going to help them?” he said. “At this stage it doesn't look as if it will affect veterinary services. We will just have to keep an eye on it. Imagine how diseases like foot-and-mouth disease will spread if they limit their veterinary services too.” He added that a lack of education would in itself affect animal health.
