By REGINALD KANYANE
North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono said more farmers will benefit from a basic Hatchery Management Training Course at Kgora Farmer Training Centre in Mahikeng.
The centre now offers basic hatchery management training to a list of skills development courses offered at this centre for beginners and experienced farmers to improve their results.
“This mini hatchery can produce up to two thousand chicks per week. It was established with the aim of training farmers who want to own hatcheries.
“Aspiring farmers who attend this training will learn practical aspects of hatchery management that includes the biology of fertile egg production, fertile egg handling, setter and hatcher environment, processing day-old chicks and hatchery biosecurity,” she said.
Mohono further said with the range of excellent facilities, the centre is able to offer on-farm practical work for participants during training. She said another project that has been recently completed at this centre is installation of 180 tons storage bins.
According to Mohono, the silos are fitted with an electronic conveyor for ease of loading and dispatch. She further said this type of storage provides optimum storage conditions for the grain, by controlling the temperature, insects, mould, birds etc.
“The silos will also be used for storage of grains produced by Kgora itself and to store feed and maize brought in bulk for future total mixed ration (TMR) for Kgora livestock. We had a dream about this centre and I am glad today to say that dream is slowly, but surely becoming a reality.
“This milestone represents yet another step of ensuring that this state owned farmer training centre is equipped with the modern infrastructure to train and develop local farmers. What makes me happier is the fact that farmers will be the biggest beneficiaries of these developments taking place here,” said Mohono.
She added that the main goal is to ensure that farmers constantly learn new and old practices and adapt to changes in the sector. Mohono said she is confident that with this mini-hatchery, more hatchers would receive top-class training.
“The centre can only accept up to a certain number of participants at a time and it is operated on a first come first serve basis. Members of the public are urged to enquire with the local agricultural offices on skills development courses offered at Kgora.
“With regard to the centre’s contribution to the food security programme, Kgora often donates chickens to farmers for rearing and seedlings to different applicable projects across the province,” she said.
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