The Department of Social Development donated wheelbarrows, spades, seeds, etc. to Davhana, Balanganani residents.  GATAP FARM owner was also included.  This influenced him to continued with his plan of being a farmer.

As a new manager in Agricultural field, who  needs some guidance from trained officials of the Department, and that, the officials being needed were aware that I need them but delayed for years because of COVID 19, etc, I was very fortunate when going to town today to buy seeds, I met three officials on their way visiting one of our local farmer and they indicated that they were planned to include to visit me. I decided immediately to drop my trip  and waited for them and took them home where I am doing practices.

The two young junior officials accompanying the senior official were very impressed by the way GATAP FARM is managed using the new technology.  I gave them the fruit which they were seeing it and taste for the first time, papino.  They googled it.  They remarked that I will not give them no problems if they want to make follow up, and that was the first time to visit a person organized like mine. They even saw the pen board where I am writing daily what is happening. I indicated to them that I am practicing farming at home, where they visited me.  I have 5ha already fenced, debushed, I bought drips, dam, generator and now planning to have borehole during 2023. 

They took photos of the field preparation and they also wanted to know my next crop.  As they were not easy to be found for guidance I informed them that I was using the Johannesburg Market officials to advise me on the most demanded crops to be planted.

They were too much supportive and gave me courage and promised to come and visit me again as they were not having enough time to see place where I am going to implement what I am practicing at home.

GATAP FARM was among vegetable farmers from Collins Chabane Municipality, Vuwani area, who were donated with pesticides from Department of Agriculture.  They were distributed according to the area and how they were performing their farming.  For the reason stated above, GATAP FARM received the following: 

All farmers donated with pesticides also received immediate training on how to handle them because some of them are dangerous.