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Mhlupheki Dube
THE Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) revolution aimed at revitalising the learning of sciences in schools together with related subjects such as Mathematics and Engineering need to be broadened to encompass tertiary institutions such as polytechnics and science-based universities.
Not so much about recruiting and broadening their curricula but ensuring that they champion research and innovation.
I have said it before and I will say it now that our scientists, engineers and such related heavyweight titles are not pulling their weight in so far as research innovation and development is concerned.
They are only interested in writing mundane journal publications which no one other than the peer reviewing team reads.
This is even manifested in the type of dissertations that can get students both at under-graduate and post-graduate passing.
If you get the opportunity of reading some of the dissertations by students reading for the Masters Degree you will get an appreciation of what am talking about.
What does this all have to do with a farming column, you are probably asking yourself by now?
The import of this instalment is to encourage proponents of STEM to put the same amount of zeal in ensuring that polytechnics, science universities and such tertiary institutions innovate and begin to answer challenges that are faced by farmers be it in crop or animal production.
We simply need innovators and inventors who are constantly thinking and producing products that address farmers’ challenges.
I have said it before that why should a country like ours which has invested heavily in education be seen importing simple things like weaning rings from as far as Germany and some coming across from South Africa?
A weaning ring, for the benefit of others is nothing other than a plastic with spikes that is put on an over-grown calf to stop it from suckling and wean it off.
Surely, I cannot be convinced that our technical colleges and universities are so lame that they can’t even fabricate a simple plastic with spikes!!
There are many areas where farmers need intervention of researchers and engineers to come up with inventions and innovations that can alleviate their challenges.
One example is the loss of animals to predation especially calves around wildlife neighbouring areas.
Surely is there no simple invention that can be tried which prevents predation on calves for such farmers?
I have also written in this very platform about the devastating losses that livestock farmers incur due to a noxious shrub called umkhawuzani.
Is there no research that can be done especially around herbicide technology so that a herbicide which can simply be sprayed to exterminate the plant is found? Alternatively can we not produce an antidote to counter the effects of umkhawuzani such that farmers can simply inject or drench their animals when they have consumed the noxious plant?
There are so many research areas which our technical institutions can explore and begin to address the needs of farmers. If what am writing is difficult to comprehend for people in these institutions all they need to do is pick up a farming magazine like the South African farmers’ weekly. There is always a whole range of innovations being tried and sold to farmers, ranging from movable poultry houses to movable water reservoirs.
Farmers are spoiled for choice in terms of what they can try to address their challenges.
The STEM proponents can look at putting preconditions before graduating a Masters engineering student and one such condition can be related to demonstrated relevant innovations. I also move in this platform that an innovation/inventions expo needs to be held in which technical institutions are compelled to exhibit relevant and useful innovations. I know these institutions will scream about funding for research and my answer to that, is that’s your problem figure it out. I am only interested in your inventions because that’s what will solve my problem.
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Bongani Ndlovu