Page 12 - 02 Cotton SA September 2013

Opkomende Boere - Smallholder Farmers

Accolades for Nkomazi (Mpumalanga)

Farmers

Most of the readers have probably never heard of Nkomazi. It is a beautiful district in the Mpumalanga Lowveld,
tucked in between Swaziland and Mozambique.

his past season these farmers have really come to light and
exceeded all expectations with their enthusiasm and hard
Twork, despite some excessively dry conditions at a critical
stage.
To date, they have delivered 4 500 x 200 kg of seed cotton, produced
on 1 107 ha. This average of 800 kg seed cotton per ha is 33% more
than expected, and farmers are very happy.

What were the main contributing factors to this success?
Firstly, the rain was earlier than normal. Secondly, however, this
would have been no advantage if farmers had waited for seed from
the grants, which are always delivered late.
Bongani Nkosi, from Agro Landboudienste, informs us that farmers
were able to utilize the early rain by buying seed with their own
money, and were able to plant in late October and early November.
Normally, they can only plant in December. They now appreciate
the advantage of planting early. Thirdly, farmers are well organized
into associations and are enthusiastic about being trained to
do a better job. The Loskop Cotton gin has also noted a marked
improvement in co-operation and organization from farmers.
Training has helped them ght the terrible weed, Parthenium
Hysterophorus, which they call ( Maria-Maria). The owers from
this weed, release a ne powder, containing the toxin, Parthenin
which causes extreme discomfort with Asthma symptoms to
many individuals labouring in the elds. Control is achieved by Mealybug on cotton
spraying Roundup at an early stage. The problem with Mealybug
is also being addressed after intensive training and information
dissemination in a ected areas like Khombaso.
Congratulations to Nkomazi cotton farmers - keep up the good
work!
work! By Percy Macaskill (Mentorship Program)

Diagramatical illustration of Parthenium Hysterophorus Enthusiastic Khombaso farmers attending training

Katoen SA Cotton 12 September-December 2013