By Prof Nomali Ngobese

In a landmark outreach initiative aimed at revitalising rural agricultural development, the School of Geo and Spatial Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) visited the Makouspan community near Mahikeng on 7 July 2025 to initiate strategic partnerships with local farmers across 3,800 hectares of arable land.

This collaboration seeks to harness scientific expertise to transform dormant farmland into a driver of economic empowerment and food security.

Led by Prof Stuart Piketh, the school director, the NWU delegation included a multidisciplinary team of agricultural scientists.  The participants were Prof Gerhard du Preez, nematologist and chair of the subject group Agriculture, Dr Jerry Dlamini, an agronomist, Dr Henno Havenga, a climatologist, Hannes Lombart, the Molelwane farm manager, Dr Edward Smit, a soil scientist, and Prof Nomali Ngobese, a plant physiologist. Supporting the team was MSc student Keamogetswe Paledi, who provided critical assistance with language interpretation between English and Setswana, ensuring inclusive community engagement.

The outreach began with a visit to the tribal office headman, Chief Mutloane, who welcomed the NWU team with warmth. In his address, Chief Mutloane highlighted persistent challenges of food insecurity and youth unemployment, despite the community’s significant land ownership. As an animal health technician himself, he expressed his aspiration to see farming evolve into a viable, locally owned business enterprise. He also shared a long-term vision for establishing an abattoir in the area.

The NWU delegation, accompanied by community leader Nomhle Mokate and two extension officers from the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, then proceeded to Block A, a 300-hectare section of the communal land. There, they met with local aspiring farmers to begin co-developing a phased approach to land cultivation. The session provided a platform for community members to share aspirations, raise concerns and engage directly with scientists who will be working alongside them in the months to come.

As a first step toward soil rehabilitation and agricultural planning, NWU scientists collected soil samples from the site. These samples will undergo detailed analysis to inform land preparation strategies later this year, ensuring that cultivation practices are scientifically sound and environmentally sustainable.

The outreach marks the beginning of what the NWU hopes will be a transformative and enduring collaboration between academia, traditional leadership, local government and emerging farmers in the Makouspan region. By integrating local wisdom with cutting-edge science, the university aims to help shape a model of rural development that is inclusive, evidence-based and economically viable.

The NWU Team at the front table addressing the Block A land owners, left to right, Mr Keamogetswe Paledi, Prof Stuart Piketh, Prof Gerhard Du Preez, Ms Disebo Seleka (DARD) and Dr Jerry Dlamini

Google Maps image of the area

Ms Nomhle Mokate addressing Makouspan Block A land owners

Dr Henno Havenga collecting soil samples with an auger