NWU Library Highlights Role in Social Cohesion and Agricultural Advancement
The Taung Agricultural College recently celebrated Library Week under the theme "Library Fostering Social Cohesion," an event highlighting the library's critical role in uniting communities through knowledge sharing. As part of the celebrations, the North-West University Library was invited to engage with students and staff, highlighting the importance of agriculture and research in driving sustainable development. The collaboration underscored the importance of agricultural research in addressing global food security challenges, fostering innovation, and advancing rural economies by promoting access to valuable academic resources. Libraries were placed as essential facilitators of social cohesion, education, and agricultural advancement.
The event saw an enthusiastic gathering of secondary school students, agricultural college students, and employees, all united by a common appreciation for the transformative power of libraries. Among the distinguished presenters was the North-West University's Learning and Research Manager (Mahikeng Campus), Ms N Madikane, who contributed her insights and experiences to the day's proceedings. She mostly touched on the issue we are currently facing with primary school children who cannot read properly and on ways we can deal with this problem.
Mr Dire, an Irrigation Specialist, emphasised the crucial link between food security and water, highlighting that water is fundamental for food production, processing, and preparation. Effective management of water resources is essential to ensure long-term food security, particularly as climate change and population growth increase the pressure on these resources. To address this, the speaker highlighted the need for sustainable practices, policy interventions, and technological innovations to help balance the growing demands for water and food.
"In some areas of South Africa, food insecurity is not due to a lack of resources; rather, it comes from the construction of houses on land that should be used for agricultural production". This statement points to the issue of land use, where urban expansion and housing development encroach on fertile land that could otherwise be used to grow food, thus exacerbating food insecurity despite the availability of natural resources. This highlights the challenge of emphasising how land use decisions impact food security.
Contributors: Mr Emilio Stuurman and Ms Nomzingisi Madikane