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Stockfarm recently spoke to a number of educational institutions in South Africa to find out which skill shortages are prevalent among graduates and what the agricultural industry is doing to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge.
The best of both worlds
Dr Adri Drotskie of Henley Business School explains that the theoretical knowledge gained by studying a course or degree in agriculture is very technical. “This technical knowledge often pertains to sowing, harvesting or anything in between, and emphasises the scientific aspects of various agricultural activities.
“However, when those same students graduate and enter the farming industry, they are expected to possess basic management skills. At the moment, most graduates do not possess the necessary management skills to run a farming business on their own, especially in respect of general planning, financial and people management.”
According to Dr Drotskie, even if you complete a BSc degree at any of the universities in South Africa, there are some practical management aspects to farming that a science-oriented curriculum does not necessarily convey. Managing daily on-farm tasks, compiling an annual budget, and hiring new employees in line with South Africa’s labour laws, are all skills that are not readily transmitted, but which are crucial for running a successful agricultural enterprise.
Opting for a diploma
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Stockfarm.
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This story is from the October 2020 edition of Stockfarm.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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