Food For Mzansi’s AgriCareers roadshow made its way to the Eastern Cape this week, providing learners from Jeffreys Bay and surrounds with an opportunity to explore the exciting world of agriculture.
Though the province is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in South Africa, it also has its share of challenges. Poverty, unemployment, widespread corruption, and a lack of resources often make it difficult for young people to access the opportunities that exist in other parts of the country.
Agriculture, however, presented a promising avenue for those looking to make a living there, said Food For Mzansi co-founder and strategy director Kobus Louwrens. He explained that the AgriCareers roadshow was designed to showcase the many different career paths available in agriculture, from farming and livestock management to marketing and logistics.
By bringing together a range of experts and professionals from the sector, the Food For Mzansi initiative gave learners a chance to learn more about what it takes to succeed in this field. The Jeffreys Bay event was held at the Newtown Community Hall.
This year, the AgriCareers roadshow is backed by Bayer, Standard Bank, Kagiso Trust, Laeveld Agrochem, SANSOR, and Health For Mzansi. These partners have come together to provide a unique opportunity for learners to explore the diverse career paths available in the agriculture sector.
The Eastern Cape event partners included Oasis FM, Kouga Municipality, and the department of education. With the support of these and many other partners, the AgriCareers roadshow is empowering the next generation of agri-leaders and paving the way for a thriving agriculture sector in South Africa.
‘J’Bay event was relevant, innovative’
For many, the roadshow was the first time they had ever considered a career in agriculture. “I didn’t realise how much there was to learn about farming and agriculture,” said a grade 11 learner from Jeffreys Bay. “I always thought it was just about planting and harvesting, but there are so many different aspects to it.”
Oasis FM marketing manager, Bernadette Swartz, expressed her gratitude to Food For Mzansi for selecting Jeffreys Bay as one of the host cities for the 2023 AgriCareers events. Every year, nine different towns or cities are chosen from all nine provinces of South Africa to host this event.
The roadshow, she said, aligned perfectly with Oasis FM’s mission to provide education and empowerment to its listeners.
“Our learners were so positive after they attended the expo. The [Eastern Cape] education department, the [Kouga] municipality, they were so, so supportive of this event. We are looking forward to having you back in Jeffreys Bay. The information that was shared was so relevant, so good, and the way that it was presented was exciting and innovative.”
There is no agriculture without science
One of the challenges facing the Eastern Cape is the lack of access to resources and education. Many schools in rural areas do not have the facilities or equipment needed to teach learners about agriculture. The roadshow helps to bridge this gap by providing learners with access to experts and professionals who can offer guidance and support.
Participating experts at the Jeffreys Bay event included Francois Pretorius, a plant scientist from Barenbrug, who represented the South African National Seed Organisation. He shared his knowledge and journey with learners, highlighting the critical role that science played in agriculture.
During his talk, Pretorius emphasised the importance of seed quality and how it affected crop yields. He also touched on the importance of plant breeding and genetics in developing crops that are resilient to climate change and other environmental factors.
Roadshow inspires learners to pursue coding
Learners were also able to explore the other opportunities available, including coding, and many left feeling inspired and motivated to pursue a career in this field, said Professor Jean Greyling, who heads up the computing sciences department at the Nelson Mandela University. He said, “It was good to see learners from rural areas around the town [of Jeffreys Bay] attend, and have a once in a lifetime experience.”
He too was impressed with the quality of information the learners received during the event and noted the well-informed questions they asked. “We appreciate the opportunity we have during this roadshow to introduce learners to computer related careers in agriculture.”
Greyling furthermore praised AWS in Communities for its investment in addressing a growing concern in South Africa and around the world. As technology continues to evolve and shape every aspect of our lives, the demand for individuals with expertise in software engineering, coding, and other related fields has skyrocketed.
However, the supply of skilled professionals has not kept pace, leading to a significant talent gap. This shortage has the potential to hinder economic growth and innovation, making it essential to invest in programs and initiatives that can address this issue and prepare the next generation of software professionals. “It is definitely a great investment, assisting us to address the critical shortage of software skills in South Africa,” added Greyling.
According to Lizwi Gwaza, projects coordinator for Tangible Africa, the AgriCareers event in Jeffreys Bay provided an excellent opportunity for learners to gain knowledge about farming practices and techniques.
He noted that it allowed learners to interact with experts in the field and explore a variety of potential career opportunities, also in the field of computer science.
Gwaza highlighted the potential for collaboration between agriculture and science, noting that while they may seem different, they actually have a lot of overlapping potential.
The event, he concluded provided a platform for learners to learn more about these potential intersections and explore the ways in which they can leverage their skills in both fields to drive innovation and growth in the agricultural sector.
