From the PGP desk

April 2025

THROUGH THE FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, THE PHAHAMA GRAIN PHAKAMA (PGP) TEAM TRIES TO SERVICE FARMERS AT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS – FROM THE SMALL 1 HA FARMERS UP TO THE LARGE COMMERCIAL FARMERS. THE STARTING PLACE FOR CONTACT WITH FARMERS IS THROUGH STUDY GROUPS.

Unfortunately, the study group service stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic, when group meetings were not permitted, which was a great pity. The PGP team is making a serious effort to revive the study groups again.

COMBINED STUDY GROUPS
As a result of the reduced service, many farmers became inactive and the team lost contact with them. There was also a very large number of study groups, and the team was unable to reach them all. In order to re-establish contact, the decision has been made to combine many of the study groups. The following tables will indicate which study group you can join.

Contact the coordinators if you would like to participate in study group meetings. Contact details are on page 2. The PGP team is looking forward to more face-to-face contact with you.

Please remember to pay your annual R50 for study group membership.

At a meeting of the Emahlatini Study Group, a very secluded area, deep within the Mondi Forests of Piet Retief. Phumzile Ngcobo, assistant regional manager at PGP’s Dundee office, visited the farmers’ homesteads to check on their crops.

Mentor Phumza Mtukushe delivered chemicals to the Khanyayo Study Group and discussed the importance of weed control with the farmers. She also visited a few of the fields to see how the farmers’ crops were doing.

A group of farmers from the Tlaakgameng Study Group in North West during the meeting in September 2024.

Publication: April 2025

Section: Pula/Imvula

Author: COMPILED BY JANE MCPHERSON, PGP ADVISOR