By Rorisang Rampheteng (Free State World Correspondent)
Young farmers from across the Free State gathered at Meadow Farm 482 on Thursday, 11 June 2026, for the Free State Provincial Youth Farmers Day, an event aimed at empowering youth in agriculture and creating a platform for meaningful engagement with government and industry stakeholders.
The event brought together aspiring and established farmers from different parts of the province to discuss challenges facing the agricultural sector and explore opportunities for growth, development, and market access.
Addressing attendees, Jabu Mbalula emphasised the importance of listening to the concerns and aspirations of young people.
“There is a tendency in South Africa where people say they are not worried because young people are not going to vote. We are here because the voices of young people matter and must be heard,” said Mbalula.
The purpose of the event, according to departmental representative Morethebe Modutwane, was to hear directly from young farmers about the support they need to succeed within the agricultural industry.
“The department tabled a budget a month ago, and we want to find out what you, as the youth, need,” said Modutwane.
“Today’s event is not a talk shop. It is about discussing the needs of young people in our province and finding practical ways to address them.”
As part of the programme, young farmers also received information on Foot-and-Mouth Disease, one of the most contagious livestock diseases affecting the agricultural sector. Farmers were informed that the disease spreads rapidly among animals, particularly calves, and can result in severe losses if not detected and managed early.
Among the symptoms highlighted were high fever, the development of vesicles or blisters, and excessive salivation. Farmers were further advised that the disease has an incubation period of between two and four weeks and that strict biosecurity measures must be followed to prevent its spread.
Participants were warned that the slaughter of infected animals could contribute to further transmission of the disease, making early reporting and veterinary intervention critical in controlling outbreaks.
Free State MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Elzabe Rockman, addressed issues relating to land use, agricultural development, and market access.
Rockman said the department had identified cases where farms allocated for agricultural purposes were being used for residential activities instead of production.
“There are farms that were allocated for agriculture, yet some are being used for residential purposes. Agricultural land must remain productive and support farming activities,” said Rockman.
She added that areas such as Kroonstad continue to experience challenges relating to land availability because of settlement pressures. However, the department has conducted a situational analysis to better understand the challenges and identify possible solutions.
Rockman further announced that more farmers would receive title deeds as part of efforts to improve land ownership and strengthen agricultural production across the province.
The MEC also called for stronger links between local farmers and government nutrition programmes.
“We must link products produced by our farmers to school feeding schemes across different municipalities so that farmers can have reliable markets for their produce,” she said.
Providing an update on development initiatives, Rockman said the department currently supports 170 agricultural projects, with seven expected to be market-ready within the next three months. A further 120 projects are participating in development programmes aimed at improving production and market access over the next 12 months.
She added that R4.2 million has been allocated towards agro-processing initiatives to support value addition and job creation in the sector.
Rockman acknowledged that one of the department’s challenges is ensuring that new entrants are able to access opportunities.
“Some of the older beneficiaries do not always want new participants to join development programmes. We need cooperation to ensure that more young farmers benefit from available opportunities,” she said.
The Youth Farmers Day concluded on a positive note, with participants expressing optimism that the engagements would lead to practical interventions, increased support, and improved opportunities for young farmers across the Free State.
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