Springfield Farm has invested in learnerships for its workers, has an open-door policy for agriculture students, and offers mentorships to emerging farmers. Lindi Botha reports.
Springfield Farm, in the lush Levubu valley of Limpopo, was one of the first in the area to have macadamia nuts planted to its orchards. Coupled with decades of knowledge of avocado and pecan nut production, the farm is an ideal training ground for new farmers wanting to capitalise on crops for which demand appears to be insatiable.
Recognising the opportunity to share their knowledge, the farming operation started taking in agricultural students to do their practical training some 20 years ago. Each year they host three or four students, who are rotated between the different sections on the farm.
“This gives them a full understanding of how the whole operation comes together,” says Dave Pope, Springfield’s general manager.
“When the students arrive, they are very theoretical, so having the opportunity to experience a working farm is crucial.
“They spend time in the packhouses, nursery, orchards and macadamia cracking facility at Green Farms Nut Company, and they really learn a lot while they are here.
“This is where the employability comes in later, because they get a broad understanding of farming avocados, macadamias and pecans,” says Pope.
Students who show potential are offered a full-time position after they have completed their studies. If there are no positions on the farm, Pope sends their CVs out to the surrounding farms, with an introduction letter.
“We really try to keep them in the area because young people in agriculture are hard to come by. It is important to build up a new community of young farmers.”
Daphney Mufamadi was one of the first students to do her practical at Springfield while completing her diploma in agriculture 20 years ago.
She was employed full-time and has since progressed to farm manager. She also completed a degree in agricultural management over the past few years.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 26, 2019-Ausgabe von Farmer's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 26, 2019-Ausgabe von Farmer's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
