|
|
The Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute is a Directorate in the Branch Sector Services and Partnerships from the Department of Agriculture that provides a wide range of development, research, training and support services to the agricultural community in the extensive small stock production areas.
The Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute is rich in history and is situated about 5km outside the Karoo Town of Middelburg in the Great Karoo, Eastern Cape. On its premises it also hosts a section of the Eastern Cape Province Veterinary Services, Agricultural Research Council Fleece Testing Centre and the Director Technical Services from the Department of Agriculture Northern Cape dealing with Soil Conservation.
Our main programmes are the following:
Training
Research and Development
Support Services
In addition to the core of the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institutes mandate of providing formal mainstream education and conducting and producing extensive and quality research reports, the following key products and services are rendered in support of the mission and strategic objectives:
Training courses in small stock farming
Skills development
Farmer support programmes
Advice to small stock farmers
New farming technology
Norms and standards for small stock and potential land
Soil, water and feed analysis
Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute covers approximately 11 418 hectares of which 114 hectares are under cultivation and 25 hectares under irrigation.
The service area of the Institute has a Semi-arid climate with an annual rainfall of approximately 360mm. The natural and other water resources do therefore not sustain crop production. It however sufficiently supply in the need to enhance the key products and services in the service area.
The Grootfontein Agriculture Development Institute directly and indirectly delivers on the following:
Promote and create greater awareness in the extensive sheep and goat producing areas
Deliver prompt and well researched advisory services in the farming community
Provide hands-on support and assistance to the extensive sheep, goat and crop production farming community
Create development opportunities and partnerships in the promotion of knowledge and skills in small stock farming among black people, women, the youth and farmers through formal and informal training.