Start your own seed stokvels

Rural maize farmers in Vhembe were told to start seed stokvels that would help them purchase and curb the spiraling cost of seeds.

This was the advice of seed expert Mr Charles Matlou of the Pioneer Seed Company, who addressed farmers during a maize information day held at the local Maraxwe Juventus sports grounds outside Thohoyandou last Tuesday.
During the function, experts touched on several issues pertaining to maize farming. If the event is anything to go by, farmers in the area could possibly soon be smiling all the way to the bank and competing with other provinces in terms of maize production.

The event is the initiative of the Department of Agriculture and seed manufacturing company Pioneer Seeds. Hundreds of farmers from villages such as Mutshenzheni, Mbahela, Maraxwe, Mianzwi, Tshiombo and Matangari attended the day.
Matlou also urged the farmers to start producing maize on a larger scale as the Limpopo province is lagging in terms of maize production. “People do not default in paying clubs for groceries, funerals and other things. Why can’t you start a stokvel that would help you in purchasing seeds? You can start saving now, and when the time comes you won’t have any problem, you will just go and purchase your seeds and you share accordingly.”

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