Following intensive training programmes in cattle, goats, grain, poultry, and horticulture, 197 North West farmers were certified at Potchefstroom College of Agriculture.
The North West department of agriculture and rural development, through the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture, in partnership with the North West Farmers’ Association of South Africa (NWAFASA), AgriSETA, and BLC Academy, recently hosted the first-of-its-kind historic certification ceremony.
This initiative represents a major step towards equipping farmers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to establish and grow sustainable and productive agricultural enterprises.
The certification programme also took into account the triple challenges faced by farmers. For this reason, the department collaborated with both public and private industries, farmer organisations, and representatives to expose learners to further opportunities, such as the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (Casp) funding models available.
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Speaking at the ceremony, the head of department, Thupi Mokhatla, emphasised the importance of partnerships for the future of the sector.
“This programme demonstrates our collective commitment to building a stronger, more resilient agricultural sector that ensures food security and drives rural economic development,” Mokhatla said.
NWAFASA chairperson, Andrew Aphane, extended his gratitude to all partners involved in the initiative. “This partnership has been instrumental in equipping our farmers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to grow sustainable and productive agricultural enterprises,” said Aphane.
He further thanked AgriSETA for its sponsorship, BLC Academy as the training partner, and the department for its unwavering support in advancing the empowerment of new-era farmers.
A bold new chapter for graduates
The department congratulated all 197 learners for their discipline, dedication, and passion for agriculture. Their achievement, officials noted, marks a significant milestone in strengthening the province’s agricultural landscape.
Among the graduates was Mosa Miga, who completed the plant production programme. Miga, who holds a diploma in animal sciences from the University of North West, said the programme helped her deepen her understanding of the links between crop and animal production.
“Agriculture is very complex. Everything on the farm is interlinked. I studied animal sciences, and we feed animals a lot of stuff that comes from crops.
“When I learn about plant production, I want to know how, for example, sunflower can be used for chickens. The same nutrition applied to people also applies to animals,” she explained.
She described the two-week training, which combined theory and exams in the first week with practical sessions in the second, as highly valuable.
“Most of the people in my class were unemployed, and some had gardens at home. We all managed to learn and could implement it in our home gardens. I also learned some things that I implemented back at the farm with my manager,” Miga shared.
Encouraging others to join, Miga highlighted both accessibility and opportunity. “ I think both farmers who have already started and people who are interested in agriculture would benefit from a programme like this. Some farmers didn’t even study agriculture, and some people don’t have the means to pay for education. This training was fully funded, which makes it even better,” she added.
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