About 90 garlic farmers from around all districts of Limpopo recently gathered last at the remote village of Davhani to celebrate Garlic Day.

The function, which was aimed at educating and empowering garlic farmers, was held at Mr Billy Makwarela’s garlic farm. Garlic plants are onion-like plants, which are believed to cure more than 30 diseases in the human body.

The event was attended by Mr Corrie Bezuidenhout from the Garlic Association of South Africa, Mr Pieter Vorster from Hygrotech, Prof Edward Nesamvusi from the Department of Agriculture, Mrs Musandiwa Tshisikule from Madzivhandila College of Agriculture, Mr Frans Nkuna from the Land Bank and Mrs. Eunice Makhado from the Department of Agriculture in Makhado. Other special guess were the chiefs, councillors and representatives from other community structures.

The main aim was to educate garlic farmers about proper ways of growing garlic through experts such as Messrs Vorster and Bezuidenhout.

Mr Frans Nkuna from the Land Bank told the farmers that the bank was there to help the people who had got financial needs in order to invest in farming. "It is our mandate to assist farmers, as well as develop ones to establish their dreams," he said.

Mrs Tshinakawu Musandiwa from Madzivhandila College of Agriculture presented certificates to 14 young farmers from the Makhado Municipality area that had just finished their courses in vegetation production. In an interview with her, Musandiwa said that the doors of the college are always open to farmers who wish to study or to seek advice related to agriculture.

She also encouraged farmers to unite, so that they can assist each other with problems and challenges that they face.

The ward councillor, Mr George Ramashia, congratulated farmers by saying they were the cream of the ward, the district and Limpopo as a whole. "Agriculture is another way of combating poverty in our communities while on the other hand playing a role in economic development," he said. He also quoted water to be a major challenge facing farmers.