Group chat empowers up-and-coming Vhembe farmers
The Vhembe Emerging Farmers (VEF) group is united in the struggle to end livestock theft and share tricks of the trade with each other.
LIMPOPO – What started out as a social media chat group gained momentum in a short while, with the Vhembe Emerging Farmers (VEF) chat group having grown to more than 60 members.
The group’s members say they continue to disprove those who say that youths are lazy and know nothing about farming.
According to VEF chairperson, Ndivhuwo Thato Mukhwantheli the need to make a collective effort started during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As farmers, we were struggling to visit other farms to learn something from them. Fortunately, a wise man decided to combine farmers from the Vhembe district through a chat group where we shared the challenges we were facing with our livestock. As with any party, it does have protocols to be followed. We have people who own different breeds of livestock like goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and agriculture products as there’s no discrimination and we are here to help each other,” Mukhwantheli remarked.
You might also want to read: Farmers encouraged to uplift their emerging counterparts
He said the VEF is united in the struggle to end livestock theft, and farmers encouraged each other to brandmark their animals.
“We meet month after month but we also visit specific farmers to see how they keep their livestock. It helps me to set better goals and to eradicate negative thoughts about farming,” he said.
He told CV that the VEF is a unity determined to raise the district’s quality of livestock and agriculture products.
The committee members are Ndivhuwo Thato Mukhwantheli (acting chairperson), his deputy chair Mulalo Mudau, Vhuthu Tshimange (treasurer), Mugwedi Ferguson (secretary), Takalani Tsanwani (deputy secretary), Ramaano Rumani (public liaison officer), and the elder’s group advisory, Nkhangweleni Mulaudzi and Krestein Nematandani.
