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01 December 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Pieter Bruwer was recently announced as Agricultural Writers SA (AWSA) Agriculturalist of the Year. Pictured with his children at the award function, which took place at Nampo Park near Bothaville are, from the left, Marisna, Pieter, Etienne, and Hannes.
Pieter Bruwer, a doctoral student at the University of the Free State (UFS), was recently announced Agricultural Writers SA (AWSA) Agriculturalist of the Year.

The focus of this award, recognising excellence in the agricultural sector in South Africa, was on extension services in agriculture and the important role of disseminating information throughout the industry, according to Liza Bohlmann, chairperson of AWSA. She says the award is made to persons who have made it their life’s work to contribute to the sustainability of agriculture in South Africa.

Candidates considered for this award were assessed on their work in the agricultural sector. They were evaluated on their essence, principles, value systems, and life ethics, as well as their local and international status. Bruwer has dedicated a large part of his life and professional career to researching and promoting sustainable practices in agriculture. “This award is in recognition of years of dedication,” he says. 

Contributing to sustainable agriculture 

An extension officer and agronomist at Langfontein Seeds in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, Bruwer is working on his PhD in the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Extension and Rural Development at the UFS. Here he investigates, among others, the importance of true scientific research results, the effective dissemination thereof, and the potentially devastating impact of pseudo-science on sustainable agriculture.

“I am determining whether there is a communication gap between agricultural researchers and producers in our country. I investigate why and how pseudo-science slipped in through the back door. If we can determine the reasons and find alternative ways to effectively disseminate scientific results from the researcher right through to the producer, we would not have to be concerned about the quality and validity of information. That can only positively contribute towards sustainable agriculture,” states Bruwer.

One of the highlights of his PhD studies is the people crossing his path. “They have changed my perspective on life. What an eye-opener,” says Bruwer who, even before he started his studies at the UFS, believed “the university has the best Faculty of Agriculture in the country”. 

He indicates that he spent the best years of his life at the UFS. When he had to decide on a university for his postgraduate studies, he did not even consider any other university. “I am still of the same opinion regarding the faculty and my supervisors (Prof Johan van Niekerk and Dr JW Swanepoel), as well as other personnel from the centre. These staff members are highly skilled, motivated, and energetic individuals and I get most of my passion and drive directly from them. World-class!” All three of his children studied at the UFS. Marisna completed an LLB, Etienne the degree BScAgricHons, and Hannes an MComm.

Believing that there is a bright future for agriculture in South Africa and the rest of the world, Bruwer says the importance of tertiary institutions such as the UFS cannot be overemphasised. “The university has the resources and ideal infrastructure to complete the agricultural scientific dissemination chain from researcher and lecturer to student, who then subsequently develops into a sustainable producer or agriculturalist. Only the academic institutions can truly form and shape young agricultural professionals.”

Passionate about agriculture 

Since his childhood, Bruwer has always been passionate about agriculture. After completing his BScAgricHons at the UFS, and after farming with crops and livestock for many years, he started working as an agronomist at Langfontein Seeds, part of a large commercial farming operation in the Wakkerstroom area. Here he developed as a crop production specialist in maize, soybeans, dry beans, wheat, and certain pastures.

“This is where I became aware of the importance of soil and crop management, which is so important to the concept of sustainable food production all over the world. We have created a model where we advise on the farmer’s complete cycle of crop production by managing the soil, crop nutrition, and crop protection – right through to harvesting,” he says.

He also enjoys his work in the advisory field. “It starts with the analysis of soil and the subsequent calculating of crop production potential, responsible recommendations and application of our organic and inorganic resources and finding solutions for all the practical implications during the growth cycle – unique to each and every year.”

“Food security is an absolute priority and sustainability is non-negotiable,” he says, adding that at Langfontein Seeds – a leader in the concept of sustainable agriculture – “we believe that food security starts with every individual who goes to work with a happy heart in the morning.”

News Archive

Access to the Bloemfontein Campus
2015-04-02

Access Control Made Easy

The first phase of access control at the University of the Free State (UFS) was implemented in August 2014. The aim of this initiative is to tighten security measures on the Bloemfontein Campus.
 
Since November 2014, access control has been implemented at all five gates on the Bloemfontein Campus. These are:

  • The Main gate in Nelson Mandela Drive (Gate 1)
  • The gate in DF Malherbe Drive (Gate 5)
  • The gate in Wynand Mouton Drive (Gate 3) 
  • The gate in Furstenburg Street (Gate 4)
  • The gate in Badenhorst Street (Gate 2)

Here is some useful information about the access control system:

1. Remember your access card when you enter the campus

Dual-function cards (with distance reader compatibility) will make your movement through the gates more convenient. The university’s access system works automatically with remote or swipe action. Please make sure that you drive close to the reader or, better still, get the dual-frequency card to manage the distance between your vehicle and the remote card reader.

As of 23 March 2015, the extra security staff, who have been assisting at the gates since the implementation of access control on the Bloemfontein Campus, are no longer manning the card readers at the gates. Therefore, persons without cards will be able to enter the campus only at the one gate in DF Malherbe Drive where the Visitors Centre is situated. They will be referred to the Visitors Centre, where a day visitor’s card will be issued to them. You will need to produce a formal identification document (e.g. ID book, driver's licence).

Security will continue their normal duties at the guardhouses for the various gates on the campus.

2. Where do I get an access card?

You can apply at the university’s Visitors Centre front desk by producing your positive identification (ID book/passport/driver’s licence) and proof of payment for your access card.

You will then be directed to the Thakaneng Bridge where you will be able to collect your access card.

  • Go to the Cashier on the Thakaneng Bridge and pay your R65 for the dual-frequency card
  • Take your receipt, together with your existing card (if you have one), to the Card Division on the Thakaneng Bridge (next to Mellins Optometrists)
  • A new photo will be taken of you at the Card Office for your new card. Your new card will then be issued immediately.

Currently, there is a sufficient stock of the dual-frequency cards available at the Card Division on the Thakaneng Bridge.
 
Alternatively, you can apply online for your access card: http://apps.ufs.ac.za/cardapplication/application.aspx

Make sure you have the following documents ready to attach when completing the online form:

  • Copy of positive identification: ID/Driver's Licence/Passport
  • Signed declaration (http://supportservices.ufs.ac.za/dl/Userfiles/Documents/00007/4668_eng.pdf) by your service provider/employer (if you are a service provider) or a letter of confirmation from your spouse/partner/relative/coach/relevant UFS staff member or student in cases where you have to visit, pick-up or drop off your spouse/partner/relative frequently on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Cost: R65 for a long-term card and free of charge for short-term visits and conference delegates. Pay at the Cashier on the Thakaneng Bridge or at Absa Bank, Account Number: 1 570 8500 71, Ref: 1 413 07670 0198.

3. Cutoff Date: 7 April 2015

After 7 April 2015, no pedestrian or motorist will be able to enter the campus without a valid access card. Persons without access cards will have to enter the campus at the gate in DF Malherbe Drive where the Visitors Centre is situated. You will then be referred to the Visitors Centre where you will have to apply for a day visitor’s card. It is important to note that no one will be able to enter the campus at the Visitors Centre without a formal identification document (e.g. ID book, driver's licence).

4. Dual-frequency card simplifies access to the campus

It is important to have your card ready on entering the campus.

This card will simplify access to the campus considerably, as the card reader will read the card when it is held in a vertical position at the driver’s side window in the direction of the distance reader. Please do not place the card on the dashboard. There is an antenna wire in the card. If the card is placed on the dashboard, you are not exposing the card surface to the reader, and that might influence the antenna’s response to the reader.

Remember, the distance between the reader and the boom is only a few metres.  If you approach the reader at a ’high’ speed, you are not allowing the system to identify your card, match it to the entry in the database, check if you are ‘legal’, and then send a signal to open the boom. 

All five gates are equipped with distance readers. Within the next three weeks, two extra distance readers will also be installed at the Main Gate in Nelson Mandela Drive.
 
Please note that the dual-frequency card is needed only when you enter the campus with a vehicle and you want to activate the distance reader. All the older cards will continue to work at the tag readers. 

5. Use alternative gates

At times, some of the gates carry more traffic than others, especially with the peak morning and afternoon traffic. Gates with less traffic include:

  • The gate in Badenhorst Street
  • The gate in DF Malherbe Drive
  • The gate in Nelson Mandela Drive

You are welcome to make use of one of these alternative gates.

6. Pedestrians

No pedestrian will be able to enter the Bloemfontein Campus without a valid access card. If you have left your card at home or have lost it, you should enter the campus at the gate in DF Malherbe Drive where the Visitors Centre is situated. You will be referred to the Visitors Centre where you can apply for a day visitor’s card. You will still need to produce a formal identification document (e.g. ID book, driver's licence).

7. More information

Email: visitorscentre@ufs.ac.za
Visitors Centre front desk: Tel: +27 51 401 7766 (Mondays-Fridays 07:45-16:30)
Card Division: Tel: +27 51 401 2799 (Mondays-Fridays 07:45-16:30)
Protection Services duty room: +27 51 401 2634 (24 hours)

 

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