West Coast College Farming Students Visit Stellenbosch University’s Experimental Farm

West Coast TVET College took N6 farming students on a field day on 13 March 2025 to perform practical activities at the experimental farm of Stellenbosch University with their post graduate agronomy students.  The activity is a downflow of the West Coast Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

The students were exposed to the greenhouse facilities, at the HortiDemoCentre, where they had the opportunity to do hands on planting of cucumbers using hydroponics at the experimental farm. The students had the opportunity to learn more about advanced horticultural technologies, as the HortiDemoCentre specialises in protected horticulture. Some of the CSA features of the greenhouse the students were showcased, include the harvesting and storing of rainwater, the recycling and disinfection of water within the greenhouse, and bio-security measures implemented to protect the crops against disease and infestation.

They were further exposed to different trials being undertaken at the farm including green pepper and maize production. The field of aquaponics were also showcased to the students which involves the breeding and growing of fish in tanks while in a symbiotic relationship with plants. The plants utilise the nutrient-rich waste of the fish, while the fish utilise the water which the plants filter. It was an exciting and eye-opening day as the students were exposed to vast fields of plant production.

Thank you to the post graduate agronomy students at Stellenbosch University as well as Dr Estelle Kempen for sharing their knowledge and experience.

Sources:

Pallito, A. (2017) North Central Regional Aquaculture Center. Technical Bulletin Series no. 124. Available at: https://www.ncrac.org/files/publication/aquaculture_components.pdf (Accessed 14 March 2025).

HortiDemo Centre. Available at: https://hortidemocentre.co.za/ (Accessed 14 March 2025).