Over the past years the School of Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng has steadily proved its dedication to community development and education.

Centre for Animal Health

The school’s Centre for Animal Health provides veterinary services to farmers who keep their livestock on communal grazing land in a 30 km radius around Mahikeng. The centre provides these farmers with skills development and training on herd health management, while the centre’s students gain exposure to real-life situations.

In order to increase its community outreach to far-flung areas in the Mahikeng district, the centre has also acquired a mobile veterinary clinic. This benefits surrounding communities to a large extent as veterinarians and their teams are able to perform minor surgery in the mobile unit which is fully equipped to perform these tasks.

Agricultural Economics and Extension

The subject group Agricultural Economics and Extension is involved in the training of agricultural policy makers, farm investment specialists, rural developers, national and international consultants, agricultural industry planners and farm investors.

Crop Sciences

With its vegetable cultivation project this subject group seeks to improve food security for campus students and surrounding communities.

Nguni Cattle Development project

As part the North West province’s contribution to the ongoing national drive to capacitate small-scale farmers, the school‘s has formed a partnership with the North West Provincial government and the Industrial Development Corporation.

The Nguni Cattle Development project empowers subsistence farmers by developing their livestock farming skills and entrepreneurial aptitude.

The success of this project can be attributed to the wealth of expertise this partnership draws on, based on many years of hands-on experience and research.

Unlike other breeds of cattle, the Nguni is an indigenous breed that is known for its high fertility rate and ability to withstand harsh conditions and livestock diseases, making it well suited to the climate of the North West Province.