With South Africa’s ageing farming population, a new generation of farmers is needed to secure the future of the industry. But with the high cost of education, and limited space in tertiary facilities, the youth and farm workers are discouraged from embarking on this path. Lindi Botha spoke to Agricolleges International founder Howard Blight about accessible education at a fraction of the cost.
Howard Blight, the founder and chairperson of Agricolleges International, is convinced that agricultural training will enable the youth to make a living in the countryside rather than migrating to the cities with false hope.
“As the primary economic activity in rural areas, agriculture has a significant role to play in reshaping the country. But a lack of quality graduates at diploma level is placing the agricultural industry in a crisis that will ultimately threaten food security and stability in Africa,” he says.
Blight, who runs a nursery for macadamias, avocados and dragon fruit, and established a primary school on his farm some years ago, was one of the founding members of Stanford Lake College in Magoebaskloof, Limpopo.
He adds that there are not enough tertiary places for school-leavers, and new research and technology are challenging old curricula.
“Traditional training models are not designed to operate at scale, and there are insufficient internship opportunities. Fees in the functioning agricultural colleges are escalating, while the number of student enrolments is falling. There’s a lack of facilities for practical exercises and limited internship opportunities. Also, strikes by staff and student protests hamper learning.”
Realising the need for tertiary education in agriculture, he investigated the possibility of starting an agricultural college.
“I realised that the current agri-education model needed to change because the classroom based learning model isn’t economically scalable and does not evolve with the industry.”
The solution, Blight realised, was cloud-based learning.
“Without needing a brick-and mortar university, our budget suddenly dropped by hundreds of millions of rands,” he says.
Denne historien er fra July 19, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra July 19, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
