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Kovsies Multilingual Mokete: Showcase your talent on 18 September

13 August 2019

2019 Kovsies Multilingual Mokete

“I have a voice.” | “Ke na le lentsoe.” | “Ek het ‘n stem.” | “Nginezwi."

The inaugural Kovsies Multilingual Mokete (Festival) is an initiative of the University of the Free State (UFS) to promote multilingualism.

The Mokete will include and celebrate different cultural expressions - in visual art, poetry, storytelling, drama, music and song - by different language groups and in the different languages dominant at the UFS (i.e. English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu, and Sign Language). Students and staff from various faculties and departments on our three campuses will participate in showcasing the multicultural strengths of Kovsies on the Bloemfontein Campus on 18 and 19 September 2019.

Join us and celebrate the university’s aim to promote multicultural communication and artistic expression in English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu and Sign Language.

Categories:
A. Singing
B. Dancing
C. Short stories
D. Poems
E. Short drama item
F. Fine arts

Your item must be unique, “fresh from the block” and it must speak “volumes” of multilingualism and multiculturalism. It should celebrate the fusion of our different cultures and languages and the merging of our traditions to create a unique UFS culture. There is a prize for the best artist/performer in each category. #SayItLouderForThePeopleAtTheBack

Criteria for each category:

A. Singing
a. You can either enter a group or solo singing item
b. Song should not be longer than 4 min
c. Song should be in any one of the four languages mentioned above, ideally incorporating more than one language
d. Only backtracks or acoustic accompaniment can be used

B. Dancing
a. You can either enter a group or solo dance item
b. Dance item should not be longer than 4 min
c. Music should be appropriate to the festival tagline

C. Short stories
a. Your short story should be in any one of the four languages mentioned above, ideally incorporating more than one language
b. Short story should not be longer than 5 min when read out loud
c. If your short story is selected, you will then have a choice to either perform your own story, or have someone else perform it for you. Auditions will be held to select performers for short stories.

D. Poems
a. Your poem should be in any one of the four languages mentioned above, ideally incorporating more than one language
b. Your poem should be no more than 20-25 lines
c. If your poem is selected, you will then have a choice to either perform your own poem, or have someone else perform it for you. Auditions will be held to select performers for poems.

E. Short drama item
a. You can either enter a group or solo drama item.
b. Your item should not be longer than 10 min
c. Item should speak to the celebration of our different cultures and languages
d. Your drama item should be in any one of the four languages mentioned above, ideally incorporating more than one language
e. You first submit a script.
i. If your drama (script) is selected, you will be then be invited to an audition for final selection.

F. Fine arts
a. Only hostel entries
i. Hostels will each receive a packet which includes a canvas, photographic reference material, paint and brushes
ii. Each hostel will then copy that reference material as best they can on their canvas
iii. Art work will be displayed in the Scaena theatre foyer 16 – 20 September.

General information
A. Submission of material:
a. Submissions must be emailed to ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za
i. Singing and Dance submissions must be submitted in mp4 format via Google drive/One drive/Dropbox link to above email address
ii. Scripts for poems, short stories, short drama items to be submitted in pdf format
iii. Each submission must be accompanied by a submission form
b. Submission of hardcopies can be handed in at the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts, Scaena Theatre, Room 46 (next to the Callie Human Centre).

B. Dates:
a. Tuesday 20 August: Final submission date. You will receive an automated confirmation that your submission has been received.
b. Monday 26 August: Selected items announced for audition via email
c. Wednesday 28 – Friday 30 August: Auditions. Times and dates to be confirmed
i. Students/staff who wants to perform their own poems, short stories or short drama items
ii. All selected singing and dance items
d. Monday 2 September: Final programme participants/items announced via email
e. Tuesday 17 September: Dry-run of programme with artists


Enquiries:
Contact ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za for more information.

Mokete wa Pokanyo ya Dipuo tsa Kovsies

Mokete wa pele wa Pokanyo ya Dipuo (Kovsies Multilingual Mokete) ke morero o thehilweng ke Yunivesithi ya Foreistata (UFS) ho kgothaletsa tshebediso ya dipuo tse ngata.

Mokete o tla kenyeletsa boitlhaloso ba botjhaba bo fapafapaneng – ka bonono ba ditshwantsho, dithothokiso, dipale, diterama, mmino le dipina – ho tswa dihlopheng tse fapaneng le ka dipuo tse fapaneng tse kgolo tse buuwang haholo UFS (k.h.r. Senyesemane, Afrikanse, Sesotho, Sezulu, le Puo ya Matshwao). Baithuti le basebetsi ho tswa mafapheng ka ho fapafapana dikhamphaseng tse tharo tsa rona ba tla nka karolo pontshong ya matla a botjhaba bo fapafapaneng ba Kovsies Khamphaseng ya Bloemfontein ka la 18 le 19 Loetse 2019.

Eba le rona ho keteka sepheo sa yunivesithi sa ho kgothaletsa kgokahano ya botjhaba bo fapafapaneng le boitlhaloso ba bonono ka dipuo tsa Senyesemane, Afrikanse, Sesotho, Sezulu le Puo ya Matshwao.

Mekgahlelo:
A. Ho bina
B. Ho tantsha
C. Dipale tse kgutshwane
D. Dithothokiso
E. Dikotwana tse kgutshwane tsa terama
F. Bonono ba botaki

Tlatsetso ya hao e tlameha ho ba e kgetholohileng, “e ntjhantjha” mme e tlameha ho bua “tse ngata” mabapi le tshebediso ya dipuo tse ngata le botjhaba bo fapafapaneng. E tlameha ho keteka matahanyo ya botjhaba ba rona bo fapafapaneng le dipuo le ho kopanngwa ha meetlo ya rona ho theha botjhaba bo kgetholohileng ba UFS. Moputso bakeng sa sebapadi/moetsi ya hlwahlwa ka ho fetisisa mokgahlelong ka mong.
#SayItLouderForThePeopleAtTheBack

Mokgwatlhahlobo bakeng sa mokgahlelo ka mong:
A. Ho bina
a. O ka kenya pontsho ya sehlopha kapa ya motho a le mong ya ho bina
b. Pina e tlameha ho se fete metsotso e 4
c. Pina e tlameha ho ba ka efe kapa efe ya dipuo tse boletsweng ka hodimo mona, e ka ba hantle le ho feta haeba e kenyeletsa dipuo tse fetang e le nngwe
d. Ke dikgatiso tsa pina kapa diletswa tse bapalwang mmoho le ho bina tse ka sebediswang

B. Ho tantsha
a. O ka kenya ketso ya tantshi ya sehlopha kapa motho a le mong
b. Ketso ya tantshi e tlameha ho se be telele ho feta metsotso e 4
c. Mmino o tlameha ho tshwaneleha bakeng sa sehlooho sa mokete

C. Dipale tse kgutshwane
a. Pale ya hao e kgutshwane e tlameha ho ba ka efe kapa efe ya dipuo tse nne tse boletsweng ka hodimo mona, eo e ka bang hantle ha e ka kenyeletsa ho feta puo e le nngwe
b. Pale e kgutshwane e tlameha ho se fete metsotso e 5 ha e balwa ka lentswe le phahameng
c. Haeba pale ya hao e kgutshwane e kgethwa, o tla ba le kgetho ya ho bontsha pale ya hao ka bowena, kapa hore motho e mong a o bapalle yona. Diteko tsa lentswe di tla etswa ho kgetha bapheti ba dipale tse kgutshwane.

D. Dithothokiso
a. Thothokiso ya hao e tlameha ho ba ka e nngwe ya dipuo tse boletsweng ka hodimo mona, ekaba hantle haeba e na le dipuo tse fetang e le nngwe
b. Thothokiso ya hao e tlameha ho se fete mela e 20-25
c. Haeba thothokiso ya hao e kgethilwe, jwale o tla ba le kgetho ya ho pheta thothokiso ya hao, kapa motho e mong a e phete. Diteko tsa pheto ya dithothokiso di tla tshwarwa ho kgetha batho ba tla pheta dithothokiso.

E. Terama e kgutshwane
a. O ka kenya terama ya sehlopha kapa ya motho a le mong.
b. Terama ya hao ha e a lokela ho feta metsotso e 10
c. Terama ena e tlameha ho ba mabapi le keteko ya botjhaba le dipuo tse fapafapaneng tsa rona
d. Terama ya hao e tlameha ho ba ka efe kapa efe ya dipuo tse nne tse boletsweng ka hodimo mona, ekaba hantle ha e ka kenyeletsa dipuo tse fetang e le nngwe
e. O tla nehelana ka sengolwa sa hao e sa le pele.
i. Haeba terama ya hao (sengolwa) e kgethwa, jwale o tla memelwa ho tla fana ka pontsho ya yona bakeng sa ho kgethelwa makgaolakgang.

F. Botaki
a. Keno ya dihostele feela
i. Dihostele di tla fumana pakana e le nngwe hostele ka nngwe e kenyeletsang canvas, matheriale ya referense ya difoto , pente le maborashe
ii. Hostele ka nngwe jwale e tla kopiletsa matheriale eo ya referense ka bohlwahlwa boo ba ka bo kgonang ho canvas
iii. Mesebetsi ya botaki e tla tla bontshwa foyareng ya Scaena theatre ka la 16 – 20 Lwetse.

Tlhahisoleseding e akaretsang
A. Thomelo ya matheriale:
a. Dithomelo di tlameha ho romelwa ka imeili ho ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za
i. Dithomelo tsa mmino di tlameha ho romelwa ka sebopeho sa mp4 ka lehokela la Google drive/One drive/Dropbox atereseng e boletsweng ka hodimo mona
ii. Dingolwa bakeng sa dithothokiso, dipale tse kgutshwane, diterama tse kgutshwane di lokela ho romelwa ka sebopeho sa pdf
iii. Thomelo ka nngwe e tlameha ho tsamaya le thomelo ya foromo ya yona.
b. Dithomelo tse etswang ka kotloloho di lokela ho nehelanwa Lefapheng la Diterama le Bonono ba Kalaneng, le mane Scaena theatre complex (pela Callie Human), phapusi ya 46.

B. Matsatsi:
a. Labobedi la 20 Phato: Letsatsi la dithomello la bofelo. O tla fumana nnetefatso e iketsahallang ya hore thomello ya hao e amohetswe.
b. Mantaha wa 26 Phato: Mesebetsi e kgethilweng e tla phatlalatswa ka imeili bakeng sa memo ya diteko tsa ho tla mamelwa
c. Laboraro la 28 – Labohlano la 30 Phato: Diteko tsa ho mamelwa. Dinako le matsatsi di tla phatlalatswa.
i. Baithuti/basebetsi ba batlang ho pheta dithothokiso tsa bona, dipale tse kgutshwane kapa diterama tse kgutshwane
ii. Dipina le ditantshi tsohle tse kgethilweng
d. Mantaha wa 2 Lwetse: Bankakarolo/mesebetsi e fihlileng lenaneong la makgaolakgang e tla phatlalatswa ka imeili
e. Labobedi la 17 Lwetse: Boitokisetso ba lenaneo mmoho le dibapadi

Dipotso:
Ikopanye le ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za bakeng sa tlhahisoleseding e eketsehileng.

Kovsies Veeltalige Fees

Die eerste Kovsies Veeltalige Mokete (Fees) is ’n inisiatief van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) om veeltaligheid te bevorder.

Die Fees sal verskillende tipes kulturele uitdrukking insluit en vier – deur middel van visuele kuns, digkuns, storievertel, drama, musiek en sang – deur verskillende taalgroepe en in die verskillende dominante tale aan die UV (bv. Engels, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu en Gebaretaal). Studente en personeel van verskillende fakulteite en departemente op ons drie kampusse sal op 18 en 19 September 2019 op die Bloemfontein-kampus die multikulturele karakter van Kovies uitbeeld.
Kom sluit by ons aan en vier die universiteit se oogmerk om multikulturele kommunikasie en artistieke uitdrukking in Engels, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu en Gebaretaal te bevorder.

Kategorieë:
A. Sang
B. Dans
C. Kort verhale
D. Gedigte
E. Kort drama-item
F. Skone kunste

Jou item moet uniek en “kraakvars” wees, en dit moet “boekdele” spreek oor veeltaligheid en multikulturaliteit. Dit moet die vermenging van ons verskillende kulture en tale, asook die saamsmelt van ons tradisies wees om ’n unieke UV-kultuur te skep. Daar is ’n prys vir die beste kunstenaar/uitvoerende kunstenaar in elke kategorie. #SayItLouderForThePeopleAtTheBack

Kriteria vir elke kategorie:
A. Sang
a. Jy kan ’n groep- of solo-item inskryf.
b. Lied moenie langer as 4 minute wees nie.
c. Lied moet in enige van die vier bogenoemde tale wees, verkieslik deur meer as een taal te inkorporeer.
d. Slegs opgeneemde of akoestiese begeleiding kan gebruik word.

B. Dans
a. Jy kan as ’n groep- of solo-item inskryf.
b. Dans-item moenie langer as 4 minute wees nie.
c. Musiek moet geskik wees vir die fees se slagspreuk wees.

C. Kortverhale
a. Jou kortverhaal moet in enige van die vier bogenoemde tale wees, verkieslik deur meer as een taal te inkorporeer.
b. Die kortverhaal moenie langer as 5 minute wees wanneer hardop voorgelees word nie.
c. Indien jou kortverhaal gekies word, sal jy dan ’n keuse hê om óf self jou verhaal voor te dra, óf om iemand anders dit vir jou te laat voordra. Oudisies sal gehou word om voordraers van kortverhale te kies.

D. Gedigte
a. Jou gedig moet in enige van die vier bogenoemde tale wees, verkieslik deur meer as een taal te inkorporeer.
b. Jou gedig moenie langes as 20-25 reëls wees nie.
c. Indien jou gedig gekies word, sal jy dan ’n keuse hê om óf self jou gedig voor te dra, óf om iemand anders dit vir jou te laat voordra. Oudisies sal gehou word om voordraers van gedigte te kies.

E. Kort drama-item
a. Jy kan as ’n groep of solo-item inskryf.
b. Jou item moenie langer as 10 minute wees nie.
c. Item moet die viering van ons verskillende kulture en tale uitbeeld.
d. Jou drama-item moet in enige van die vier bogenoemde tale wees, verkieslik deur meer as een taal te inkorporeer.
e. Jy moet eers ’n teks indien.
i. Indien jou dramateks gekies word, sal jy uitgenooi word vir ’n oudisie vir finale seleksie.

F. Skone kunste
a. Slegs koshuisinskrywings
i. Koshuise sal elkeen ’n pakket ontvang wat ’n skilderdoek, fotografiese verwysingsmateriaal, verf en kwaste bevat
ii. Elke koshuis sal dan daardie verwysingsmateriaal so goed as wat hulle kan op hulle skilderdoek uitbeeld.
iii. Kunswerke sal van 16 – 20 September in die Scaena-teater se voorportaal uitgestal word.

Algemene inligting
A. Indiening van materiaal:
a. Inskrywings moet per e-pos na ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za gestuur word
i. Sang- en dansinskrywings moet in mp4-formaat via ’n Google drive/One drive/Dropbox-skakel na bogenoemde adres gestuur word.
ii. Tekste van gedigte, kortverhale en kort drama-items moet in pdf-formaat ingegee word.
iii. Elke inskrywing moet vergesel wees van ’n inskrywingsvorm.
b. Hardekopie-inskrywings kan by Kamer 46 by die Departement Drama en Teaterkuns, Scaena-teaterkompleks (langs die Callie Human-sentrum) ingegee word.

B. Datums:
a. Dinsdag 20 Augustus: Finale sluitingsdatum Jy sal ’n outomatiese bevestiging ontvang dat jou inskrywing ontvang is.
b. Maandag 26 Augustus: Gekeurde items vir oudisies sal per e-pos aangekondig word.
c. Woensdag 28 – Vrydag 30 Augustus: Oudisies. Tye en datums sal nog aangekondig word.
i. Studente/personeel wat hulle eie gedigte, kortverhale of kort drama-items wil voordra.
ii. Alle gekeurde sang- en dans-items
d. Maandag 2 September: Finale programdeelnemers/items sal per e-pos aangekondig word.
e. Dinsdag 17 September: Oefenlopie van program met kunstenaars

Navrae:
Kontak ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za vir meer inligting.

Umcimbi wokuqala weKovsies Multilingual

Umcimbi wokuqala weKovsies Multilingual Mokete (iFestivali) iwuhlelo lweNyuvesi yaseFree State (UFS) lokukhuthaza ukusetshenziswa kwezilimi eziningi.

IMokete izohlanganisa nokugujwa kwezinye izinhlobo zamasiko - ubuciko bezandla, izinkondlo, ukuxoxwa kwezindaba, imidlalo, umculo nemicwi - okuzokwenziwa ngamaqoqo ezilimi ezahlukene ezandile e-UFS (njengesiNgisi, isiBhunu, IsiZulu, noLimi Lwezandla). Abafundi nabasebenzi abavela ngaphansi kweminyango nezinhlaka ezahlukene ezikhungweni zethu ezintathu bazobamba iqhaza ekukhangiseni ngamakhono abo amasiko ehlukene kwiKovsies kwiKhampasi yaseBloemfontein mhla ka 18 no-19 kuMandulo (Septemba) 2019.

Hlanganyela kanye nathi ukubungaza igxathu lenyuvesi eliya phambili lokugqugquzela nokukhuthaza amasiko ehlukene kanye nobuciko ngolimi lwesiNgisi, lwesiBhunu lwesiZulu nolweZandla.

Imikhakha:

A. Ukucula
B. Ukudansa
C. Izindatshana ezimfushane
D. Izinkondlo
E. Imidlalo emifushane
F. Ubuciko

Kumele uqhamuke nento ehlukile, “engakaze ibonakale kwenye indawo” futhi kumele “isho lukhulu” ngokukhuthazwa kwezilimi namasiko ehlukahlukene. Kumele iqhakambise ukubumbana kwamasiko ethu ehlukahlukene nezilimi ezahlukahlukene kanye nokuhlanganiswa ndawonye kwamasiko ethu ukuze kwakheke isiko eliyingqayizivele le-UFS. Kuyoba nemiklomelo yamaciko enze kahle emkhakheni ngamunye. #SayItLouderForThePeopleAtTheBack

Okuzokwenzeka emkhakheni ngamunye:

A. Ukucula
a. Ningacula nibe yiqembu noma ucule wedwa
b. Iculo akumele libe lide ngaphezu kwemizuzu emine
c. Iculo lingaba yinoma yiluphi ulimi kulezi ezibalwe ngenhla, okungaba kuhle uma lihlanganisa izilimi ezimbili kuya phezulu
d.Kungaculwa ngokusebenzisa okomsindo noma ngokuhlabelela kuphela

B. Ukudansa
a. Ungajoyina iqembu noma udanse wedwa
b. Umdanso akumele ube ngaphezu kwemizuzu emine
c. Umculo kumele uhambisane nendikimba yefestivali

C. Izindaba ezimfushane
a. Indaba yakho emfushane ingaba yinoma ngaluphi ulimi kulezi ezine ezishiw ngenhla, okungaba kuhle uma kuyizilimi ezimbili kuya phezulu
b. Indaba emfushane akumele ibe yinde ngaphezu kwemizuzu emihlanu uma ifundwa kakhulu
c. Uma indatshana yakho ikhethiwe, uyobe usukhetha ukuthi ufuna ukuzifundela indatshana yakho noma kube khona ozokufundela yona. Kuyokwenziwa inhlolokhono ukukhetha abazofunda izindatshana ezimfushane.

D. Izinkondlo
a. nkondlo yakho ingaba nganoma yiluphi ulimi kulezi ezine ezingasenhla, okungaba akuhle kube ezimbili kuya phezulu
b. Inkondlo yakho akumele ibe nemigqa engaphez u kuka-20 kuya ku-25
c. Uma inkondlo yakho ikhethiwe, uyokhetha ukuthi uyifunda wena noma uthola umuntu ozokufundela yona. Kuyokwenziwa inhlolokhono ukukhetha abazokwethula izinkondlo.

E. Imidlalo emifushane
a. Ungajoyina iqembu noma wenze umdlalo wakho uwedwa.
b. Umdlalo wakho akumele weqe emizuzwini engu-10.
c. Umdlalo kumele ukhulume ngokugujwa kwamasiko nezilimi ezahlukahlukene.
d. Umdlalo wakho kumele ube yinganoma iluphi ulimi kulezi ezine ezingenhla,okungaba kuhle kube ezimbili kuya phezulu.
e. Uyacelwa ukuba ulethe umbalo womdlalo kuqala.
i. Uma umdlalo wakho (umbhalo) ukhethwa, uyomenywa ukuba uzovivinywa ukuze ukhethwe nabokugcina.

F. Ubuciko
a. Kwemukelwa amahostela kuphela
i. Amahostela ayothola isikhwama esinezinto ezifana neshidi lokudweba, izithombezokubukela, upende namabhrashi
ii. Ihostela ngalinye liyokopisha lezo zithombe zokubukela eshidini lokudweba ngekhono lonke
iii. Imisebenzi yobuciko iyokhangiswa emhibheni waseScaena Theatre mhla ka-16 – 20 uMandulo.

Ulwazi olwejwayelekile

A. Ukulethwa kwemingenelo:
a. Umngenelo kumele uthunyelwe nge-email ku: ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za
i. Imingenelo ephathelene nokucula nokudansa kumele ithunyelwe nge-mp4 kusetshenziswa iGoogle drive/One drive/Dropbox exhumene ne-email engenhla
ii. Imibhalo yezinkondlo, izindaba ezimfushane, imibhalo yemidlalo emifushane kumele kulethwe ngohlobo lwe-pdf.
iii. Umngenelo ngamunye kumele uhambisane nefomu lokungenela.

b. Imingenelo engamaphepha ingahanjiswa eMnyangweni wakwaDrama and Theatre Arts, ezakhiweni sazeScaena Theatre (eduze kweCallie Human), e-room 46.

B. Izinsuku:
a. ULwesibili 20 kuNcwaba: Usuku lokugcina lokungenela. Uzothola isiqinisekiso esiziphendulayo sokuthi umngenelo wakho utholakele.
b. UMsombuluko 26 kuNcwaba: Izihloko ezikhethelwe ukungenela inhlolokhono nge-email
c. ULwesithathu 28 kuya kuLwesihlanu 30 kuNcwaba: Inhlolokhono. Isikhathi nosuku kusazoqinisekiswa
i. Abafundi/abasebenzi abafuna ukuhaya izinkondlo zabo, izindaba ezimfushane noma imidlalo emifushane
ii. Imingenelo ekhethelwe ukucula nokudansa
d. UMsombuluko 2 kuMandulo: Uhlu lokugcina lwemingenelo luyokwethulwa nge-email.
e. ULwesibili 17 kuMandulo: Ukuzivivinyela uhlelo namaciko

Imibuzo:
Ngolunye ulwazi xhumana ne: ufsmokete@ufs.ac.za

News Archive

Agriculture must adapt to change

2008-11-28

At the launch of "50 years of agriculture" at the UFS were, from the left: Mr Corwyn Botha: Chairman: Agri Business Chamber and Managing Director: Cape Agri Group, Mr Motsepe Matlala, President of NAFU, Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Head: Agri SA, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk: Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS, and Mr Sugar Ramakarane, Head: Department of Agriculture, Free State Province.
Photo: Lacea Loader

“The biggest factor driving agriculture today is change. Our major challenge is to adapt to this changing environment.” This was stated by Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) during the recent celebration of the faculty’s “50 years in agriculture”.

Prof. Van Schalkwyk stated that the most important changes include power relationships in supply chains, consumer demand, new products and technology in agriculture, government action and developments in neighbouring states. “At the moment there is very little cooperation between small-scale farmers, small-scale farmers and commercial farmers and farmers and processors. There are also low levels of processing, low levels of value adding and a lack of creative thinking in agriculture," he said.

“This must change – we need comprehensive agricultural support and new business ideas in agriculture. We need better infrastructure, value chain financing and improved institutional support,” he said.

Speaking about agriculture and institutional co-operation in the Free State, Mr Sugar Ramakarane, Chief Director of the Free State Department of Agriculture, said that the UFS plays a vital role in bringing together organised agriculture in the province. “The responsibility of transforming our economy cannot be done by government alone. We need partners like the UFS to assist us with bringing together the two most important stakeholders of the agricultural sector, namely the National Farmers’ Union (NAFU) and Free State Agriculture. You can assist us with harnessing co-operation and providing practical solutions," he said

Mr Ramakarane said that his department is aware of the university’s good work with emerging farmers. “But, I want to encourage the university to help us with skills transfer and the development of the emerging farmers. You can play a vital role in developing a mentorship programme. Yours remains a central and critical role of being torch bearers in guiding the transformation agenda of our country," he said.

In his contribution on the challenges of small scale farmers in South Africa and the role of the university, Mr Motsepe Matlala, President of NAFU, said that unity in organised agriculture and working together with other stakeholders has become even more crucial with regard to the global challenges now faced by the country. “The university should take the lead in guiding all farmers on how to respond to, among others, the global financial turmoil and politics, developments in trade negotiations, food prices, input costs and the availability of energy," he said.

“If the UFS, and more specifically the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, is to continue to play a leading role in academia as well as in the production of research that matters to the growth and development of this country, it must adopt an approach that seeks to harness the capacity of everyone in an inclusive manner. The strides already made in this regard must be applauded,” Mr Matlala said.

Speaking on the future challenges in agriculture and the role of universities, Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Head of Agri SA said that South Africa has not spent money on agricultural development in a long time. “We must increase our product capacity in the agricultural sector. Universities must focus on cultivating enough expertise and the skills necessary to manage the resources and capacity needed," he said. In his view, South Africa must also focus on technological advancement in agriculture as this has also been neglected in the past. He urged universities to provide best-practice education and to look at international trends in agricultural training. “That is why we should not only focus our attention on South Africa, but on southern Africa,” Mr van der Merwe said.

In conclusion to the day’s programme, Mr Corwyn Botha, Chairperson of the Agricultural Business Chamber, Managing Director of the Cape Agri Group and former Kovsie stated that: “If you want to be an example of leadership, people around you must do better because you are there. A university should evaluate itself in this context. You cannot create solutions to problems with the same attitude in which the problems were created."

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
28 November 2008

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