Union of South Africa. Department of Agriculture. Annual Report of the Chief of the Division of Chemistry for the year ended June 30th, 1933

The Analyst ◽  
1935 ◽  
Vol 60 (707) ◽  
pp. 101
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Department Of Agriculture

Climate Change Mainstreaming in Extension Agents Training Curricula: A Case of Mopani and Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Zafezeka Mbali Zikhali ◽  
Paramu L. Mafongoya ◽  
Maxwell Mudhara ◽  
Obert Jiri
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Information Gap ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Vhembe District

This study assessed the provision of informal training offered by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, South Africa, to agricultural extension officers (AEOs). The study used surveyed 90 public extension officers purposively sampled. There were statistically significant differences in extension officers’ exposure to climate change between their education levels and in the provision of climate change training between extension officers’ work experience ( P⩽0.05). The study concluded that the majority of AEOs have not been fully exposed to climate information prior to their employment. This suggests that the information gap in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) stems from the slow mainstreaming and integration of climate change information.

An Immersive Tractor Application for Sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-54
Author(s):  
Ofentse Mabiletsa ◽  
Sarel J. Viljoen ◽  
Jason Arthur Farrell ◽  
Lwando Ngqwemla ◽  
Omowunmi Elizabeth Isafiade
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Immersive Technology

South Africa is currently addressing the issue of land reform. This research explores how immersive technology could serve as an intervention to avoid unintended consequences in the agricultural industry. This work used participatory design, a stage-based approach, and the SCRUM project management methodology to develop a novel tractor-based immersive technology mobile application. The tractor application developed serves to support novice farmers and learners alike, to learn about and test their skills on tractor components. Three-dimensional modelling software and EON reality software were used to develop the mobile application. Upon completion, the application was tested by experts in this domain of interest and compared to the objectives identified, resulting from land reform as set out by the Department of Agriculture. The tractor application shows promise in promoting Farming 4.0. Moreover, feedback from potential users and experts in this domain confirms the success of the application and interest in future immersive research.

71 COMPARISON OF CRYOPROTECTANTS ON CRYOPRESERVATION OF VENDA COCK SPERMATOZOA

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
M. L. Mphaphathi ◽  
M. B. Raito ◽  
M. B. Makhafola ◽  
D. Luseba ◽  
T. L. Nedambale
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ethylene Glycol ◽  
South African ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Target Temperature ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Semen Collection ◽  
Frozen Semen ◽  
Contrast Microscopy ◽  
Motility Rate

Improving the cryopreservation technique for indigenous fowl semen may contribute to the development of cryogene banks in South Africa. The goal was to identify a cryoprotectant among dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG), and propanediol (PND) that is compatible with survival after freezing of Venda cock spermatozoa. Six Venda cocks were used for semen collection. The abdominal massaging technique was applied for semen collection from cocks. Individual ejaculates were diluted with modified Kobidil+ (mK+) extender (extender A) at ratio of 1:2 (v/v) before freezing, and equilibrated for 2 h. Semen was diluted again at a ratio of 1:1 (v/v) with mK+ plus 8% DMSO, EG, and PND (extender B) and equilibrated for 2 h at 5°C. Semen were then transferred into 0.25-mL plastic straws and placed into a programmable freezer (Planer Kryosave). The temperature of the chamber was decreased in a stepwise manner, from 5°C at a rate of 1°C min–1 until it reached the target temperature of –20°C. Finally, the straws were exposed to liquid nitrogen (LN2) vapor and plunged into LN2 (–196°C). The semen straws were stored in an LN2 tank at –196°C. After 1 week, frozen semen straws were thawed at 5°C for evaluation of spermatozoa survivability and motility rate at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min, using contrast microscopy (20× magnification). Data were analyzed by ANOVA. Spermatozoa live and motility rates were greater before freezing (Table 1) in all groups. There was no significance difference between DMSO and EG with regard to live and motility rates. However, the lowest rates of live and motility spermatozoa were recorded in the PND group. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the cryopreservation process reduces sperm quality and propanediol was not suitable for cryopreserving Venda cock spermatozoa. Table 1.Comparison of three CPA on cryopreservation of Venda cock semen This study was funded by the South African National Department of Agriculture, ARC, DST-PDP (RT19000), and National Research Foundation (NRF, Grant. no. RT21 and 24000).

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