AgriSETA CEO Fanny Phetla says agricultural skills development, practical training and support for young entrepreneurs can help tackle youth unemployment and strengthen food security.
The agency aims to expand opportunities for young people in the sector as the country grapples with widespread food insecurity and youth unemployment.
“This we are doing through relevant, quality and accessible education, training and development in primary and secondary agriculture, in conjunction with stakeholders in agriculture.”
“AgriSETA continues to fulfil its role in the agriculture sector according to its mandate, through skills development and empowerment,” he said. “The agricultural sector is central to livelihoods, economic development and food security, with skills development playing an important role in strengthening the sector,” he said.
Phetla added that AgriSETA had achieved between 85% and 95% of its performance targets over the past five years, in line with its service level agreement with the department of higher education and training. The agency was working towards achieving all its targets.
“There is a comprehensive list on our website and young people can apply for bursaries via TVETs and agricultural colleges for AgriSETA-funded programmes, all done via the department of agriculture bursaries scheme.”
“By creating pathways into decent agricultural work, young people with a passion for agriculture, who would like to make it a career, can choose from many professions covering low-level skills to PhDs. The list is endless, and as a start, we encourage future agriculturalists and artisans to focus on scarce skills such as irrigation, soil management, climate-smart farming, food processing, storage management, digital farming practices and solutions.”
In terms of farm security, Phetla highlighted that the skills in technologies such as drones and sensors, as well as business management, marketing, finance and export standards, would also be important.
According to Phetla, improving food security would require stronger support for young entrepreneurs, smallholder farmers and emerging farmers.
“We have to strengthen strategic partnerships, establish business incubators for youth-owned enterprises and small-holder and emerging farmers. Business incubators can provide mentoring, shared tools, legal assistance, accounting and access to markets. Young people will then become job creators, rather than being jobseekers,” Phetla said.
He stated that in recent engagement with agricultural-sector, stakeholders highlighted the need for stronger collaboration, improved access to qualifications and more assessment centres.
“Our message is one of partnership and continued collaboration for greater impact,” said Phetla. “We encourage employers, levy payers, SDFs, accredited training providers, institutions of higher learning, youth and communities to continue engaging with AgriSETA – making use of relevant skills development opportunities.”
