Page 12 - 01 Cotton SA May 2013

Kleinboere • Smallholder Farmers

Cotton skills programme: Limpopo Province

The last two cotton skills training modules for the 2012/13 season of the Cotton Skills Programme were presented at
Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture, Limpopo. A total number of twenty-nine farmers, from the Sekhukhune, Aganang,
Elias Motswaledi, (Waterberg) Mookgophong and Ephraim Mogale municipalities attended these two modules.
ith Module 3, centering around pest manage- The fourth module relating to correct harvesting techniques and the
ment, emphasis is placed on the identification of importance of meeting the minimum requirements of cotton gra ding
insect pests and predators, the correct pest control standards was presented during March. The description of all the
methods based on Integrated Pest Management grading standards were fully explained and all the learners were in-
W (IPM) principles, which includes regular monitoring volved in challenging practical work such as deciding on the re levant
and scouting of the field. The safe handling and usage of pest control gra ding standard applicable to the presented harvested cotton sam-
products were covered as well. ples. Harvested cotton contaminated with certain items was >> p13
displayed and the learn-
ers had to identify the
various contaminants.
A second group of 17 se-
lected Extension officers
and officials from LDA
and staff from Tompi Se-
leka also attended simi-
lar modules. Additio-
nal unit standards were
added to their course to
ensure that IPM is well
understood and enable
the Extension officers to
support the farmers on
this important aspect of
cotton production.
All the officials and
farmers participated
in the practical work,
Percy explaining scouting procedures. Calibrating a knapsack

Katoen sa Cotton 12 Jan - Mei/May 2013