9 May 2023

3 minute read

By: Global Ag Media

Africa

As part of its ongoing commitment to advance nutrition and health, Bayer has reaffirmed its support of Buhle Farmer’s Academy in a focussed partnership to launch a school nutrition programme in Mpumalanga, according to a press release. 

The programme, which was officially launched on May 4, 2023 at Delpark Primary School, will train farmers and build infrastructure to produce eggs to be supplied to school learners.

Various schools will be selected as part of this initiative where permanent structures will be erected to supply eggs to learners for years to come.

“The two main goals of this project include the training of 500 community farmers in different farming courses, and to establish poultry infrastructure with the capacity to ultimately supply 750 000 eggs to over 11 000 learners in primary and high schools across Delmas in Mpumalanga,” said Nyiko Maluleke, Chief Executive Officer of Buhle Farmer’s Academy.

Adding eggs to a child’s diet can reduce the risk of undernutrition, provide complete protein and several micronutrients critical for growth and development.

“This programme is another step in addressing food security and promoting good nutrition to learners attending schools in under-resourced communities,” said Parusha Pillay, B-BBEE Manager at Bayer in South Africa.

Buhle Farmer’s Academy trains and supports new farmers from across South Africa to run farming businesses that are both profitable and sustainable. The farming and management skills they offer alleviates poverty by creating jobs, while helping to ensure food security.

“Ten years from now, the impact of what is being started today will still be there, continuing to touch the lives of these children and their communities and inspiring them. More than Bayer being the funder, we are partners in purpose to inspire others to come on board on this project and others like it in other communities, sustainable projects than can change lives” said Mamati Tembe, Head of Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability for Bayer Africa.

Since they opened their doors in 2000, Buhle Farmer’s Academy has trained over 6,000 emerging farmers in vegetable, crops, poultry and livestock production, and mixed farming. At Buhle 50% of those trained are women and 65% youth, and it has helped to create over 12,000 jobs.

There are over two million smallholder or household farmers in South Africa. Furthermore, about 40% of South African livestock are in the hands of approximately 240,000 smallholder farmers, mainly farming in rural areas.

“Smallholder farmers have a significant role to play and make an enormous contribution in terms of rural income and household and community food security. Providing skills, guidance and opportunities through sustainable programmes such as this can further empower hundreds of farmers and add nutrition to the daily diet of thousands of learners,” said Pillay. “In line with Bayer’s vision of Health for All, Hunger for None’ we are proud to be partnering with Buhle Farmer’s Academy on this groundbreaking initiative”.