The Motheo Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Bloemfontein has launched its food security innovation project with the unveiling of a greenhouse tunnel in Bloemspruit.
After being piloted on small scale on a farm, it is now fully-fledged.
Buti Manamela, deputy minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, officially opened the state-of-the-art greenhouse on 23 September.
“There is a strong focus on the implementation of revised curriculum content for the horticulture skills programme, which is being introduced at five TVET colleges,” said Manamela.
“With all the work that has been done so far, the Motheo college is marked by implementing its vision to raise awareness in the Free State region about better ways to save water, to plant, have produce, and create jobs in the agriculture sector.
“It is also about developing innovative and sustainable solutions in response to the challenge of climate change.”
With the latest methods being implemented, the tunnels benefit growers by extending the season in which they can grow crops. This is made possible by the crops being protected from extreme weather conditions such as intense heat, wind and excessive rain, as well as hailstones. In these tunnels, vegetables can be grown in soil or through hydroponic farming systems.
With artificial intelligence being employed, the project is intended to support the application of smart technology and water applications, as well as the employability of graduate students.
Approximately 17 TVET colleges are participating in this project, which is a collaboration between the Motheo college, Stellenbosch University, the Central University of Technology (CUT) and Friends of Agriculture. Motheo is the only college from the Free State taking part.
The Maastricht School of Management, an international business school in the Netherlands, funds the greenhouse initiative.
It is also about developing innovative and sustainable solutions in response to the challenge of climate change. – Buti Manamela
