Kabelo Masoabi
Working towards sustainability and innovation, 30 smallholder farmers in Maputsoe recently participated in a recycling workshop that focused on transforming waste into valuable resources.
Organised by the Maputsoe Resource Centre under the Ministry of Agriculture’s Nutrition Department, the workshop aimed to empower both youth and adults by creating income opportunities through sustainable methods.
Led by Extension Officer Rethabike Motake, the workshop further aimed to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to generate income from recycling waste.
“This would help them afford essential agricultural inputs that are often too expensive. Motake explained, adding, “The goal of this community training is to also explore how recycling waste can create business opportunities that can support financial stability for effective agriculture. This involves a creative approach to crafting decorative items using materials such as plastic bottles, newspapers, glass, cardboard, and fabric.”
Motake emphasised the importance of raising public awareness about recycling opportunities, particularly in Maputsoe, which is known for its high levels of industrial waste.
“Our department is committed to promoting healthy living while supporting local craft industries. In the next session, we will be teaching farmers how to make usable fuel from waste,” she added.
Makhotso Mothoalo, a farmer from Corner Exchange in Leribe who participated shared how the workshop opened her eyes to the potential of recycling.
“The training session provided valuable insights into identifying recyclable materials and employing creative techniques to transform them into valuable items, such as flower vases,” she explained.
Mothoalo also mentioned that they had acquired additional materials like wool, spray paint, and glue to enhance their craft designs.
While learning of new technological and innovative approaches, the farmers didnt shy away from expressing their concerns about the increasing challenges they face, including new pests, diseases, and deteriorating soil health which they noted to address these issues, they often rely on expensive insecticides and fertilisers.
The workshop highlighted how handcrafts made from recycled materials could be a vital source of additional income to manage these agricultural expenses.
The workshop also focused on the environmental benefits of recycling.
Extension officers educated the farmers on the dangers of improperly discarded plastics, which can degrade into microplastics and infiltrate the soil. This can potentially harm plant life and reduce soil fertility.
Experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warn that microplastics can alter the physical composition of the soil, limiting its ability to retain water and impeding plant growth. These issues are crucial for global food security.
Recognising the urgent need to address agricultural plastics, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the UN released a report in 2021 titled “Assessment of Agricultural Plastics and their Sustainability: A Call for Action.” The report commits to developing a voluntary Code of Conduct to improve the collection and recycling of these materials worldwide.
The report noted that over the last 70 years, the use of plastics in agrifood systems and food value chains has become pervasive, citing while they can increase productivity and efficiency in all agricultural sectors and help minimise food loss and waste, plastics are a major source of contamination.
The innovative approach taken by Maputsoe farmers not only addresses pressing environmental concerns but also provides a sustainable way to enhance their agricultural productivity.
Motake said by turning trash into wealth, the farmers are paving the way for a more resilient and economically viable agricultural future.
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