Kimberley
About 78 unemployed agricultural graduates are set to gain valuable training on various agricultural commodities in the Northern Cape. These graduates from across the length and breadth of the province were warmly welcomed by the Northern Cape Agriculture MEC Mase Manopole amidst fanfare at an event held today in Kimberley.
The Graduates are expected to be placed at various sectors of agriculture, forestry and fisheries to reduce the high youth unemployment rate. This is the 3rd cohort of graduates since the programme started in 2018.
MEC Manopole who was in her usual element highlighted the significance of the programme to agriculture – and on how it is assisting them to find employment and create their own job opportunities.
Said Manopole, “Amongst the objectives of this initiative are the following, “Providing unemployed agricultural, forestry and fisheries graduates with opportunities to gain on-the job experience whilst contributing to the acceleration of food production through the development of a pool of competent young producers.
“Bridge the gap of ageing producers and reduce high unemployment rate among youth and also to fight poverty and above all provide a platform for active participation of youth in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector.
“It is our wish to transform the sector and ensure more participation from young people and more particularly young women. It is your call to make agriculture fashionable and appealing.”
Manopole further explained, “This initiative speaks to the National Development Plan (NDP) and the National Youth Policy (NYP). Government has identified agriculture as a key job driver targeting the sector to create about 1 million jobs by 2030. All the five districts of the province will benefit as the graduates will be placed in all the districts.”
One of the participants in the programme Refiloe Sethibe, an honors degree graduate from the North West University was very elated for the opportunity afforded to her and her peers by the department. Refiloe is already getting experiential training at Rolfontein Nature Reserve, serving as Nature Conservationist Officer since February 2024. The initiative is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Commodity Organizations and farms.
Said Sethibe, “the programme has given us an opportunity to have work-based experience, we are keen to learn more and contribute positively to our community and promote the good work being done by the department. It is also our wish that we can be absorbed into the workplace when the programme ends.”
Pictured: Refiloe Sethibe (Placed Graduate), T Sibhono (Head of Conservation / Environment), MEC Mase Manopole (Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform), Moira Marais (Agriculture HOD), Malebogo Mocwiri (Deputy Director – Farmers Training and Capacity Building), and Lilian Senosi (Director – Producer Support and Development).
