• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
‘There’s more to agriculture than just gumboots and overalls’

‘There’s more to agriculture than just gumboots and overalls’

24th July 2019
Podcast: How to access fresh produce markets in SA

Podcast: How to access fresh produce markets in SA

1st December 2023

Food For Mzansi serves as ideal launching pad for farmers

1st December 2023
Let this saucy oxtail recipe take you back down memory lane

Let this saucy oxtail recipe take you back down memory lane

1st December 2023
Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

1st December 2023
ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

1st December 2023
Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

1st December 2023
In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

30th November 2023
Food for Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

Food For Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

30th November 2023
The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group unveils the November 2023 Household Affordability Index, exposing surging expenses and stagnant wages affecting South African households. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Economic squeeze: Families struggle as costs soar

30th November 2023

Faces of Summer: Celebrate the rich history of Thokozani Wines

30th November 2023
Limpopo seeks revival of economy by putting farmers first

Limpopo seeks revival of economy by putting farmers first

30th November 2023
ICYMI: NW agri dept ramps up goat farming with handover

ICYMI: NW agri dept ramps up goat farming with handover

30th November 2023
Friday, December 1, 2023
15 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Login
Food For Mzansi
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Food For Mzansi
Home News

‘There’s more to agriculture than just gumboots and overalls’

by Duncan Masiwa
24th July 2019
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
‘There’s more to agriculture than just gumboots and overalls’

Food For Mzansi journalist Duncan Masiwa with some of the learners attending the Eastern Cape leg of the VKB Food For Mzansi Agri Career Roadshow.

Shalton Klassen, a learner from Nqweba Secondary School in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, says he has been planting vegetables in their family garden since September 2016.

“I sell the vegetables to my community and use the money to buy stationary items and sometimes sweets too,” he says.

Today he was one of the hundreds of learners we met on the second day of the Eastern Cape leg of the VKB Food For Mzansi Agri Career Roadshow presented in partnership with the provincial Department of Education.

These two learners attended the Agri Career Roadshow in Graaff-Reinet and were totally surprised at the various career opportunities within agriculture.

Klassen’s vegetable garden was a project he undertook after one of his close friends showed him a vegetable garden he had started. The gr. 10 learner says it wasn’t easy starting a garden. “I didn’t have money for seeds and the ground I planted on was not fertile enough, so I had to thoroughly work the ground for my garden to be a success.”

Another learner, Vuyokazi Kiyose, says she wants to go into agriculture after matriculating, but is not yet completely sure about her choice. “My father is a farmer too. He grows vegetables and sells them the community,” Kiyose says.

Food for Mzansi's Kobus Louwrens (third from left) with delegates from the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
Food for Mzansi’s Kobus Louwrens (third from left) with delegates from the Eastern Cape Department of Education. On the far right is Andre Bouwer, a counselling psychologist at the department.

The gr. 11 learner adds that they’ve been farming since 2016 and that she is happy to help her father with his vegetable garden. “It brings me joy to see the community benefiting from it,” she explains.

There is a stigma attached to agriculture and this needs to change, says Sithembele Mpokeli from the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, who visited the career roadshow. “We need to let young people know that there’s more to agriculture than just gumboots and overalls. We need to transfer the right skills to students and make sure that they are well equipped with the right information pertaining agriculture.”

Food For Mzansi co-founder Kobus Louwrens with Johan Mellet from MSD Animal Health.
Food For Mzansi co-founder Kobus Louwrens with Johan Mellet from MSD Animal Health.

Food For Mzansi, along with 22 other exhibitors, were amazed by the zeal and commitment these schoolchildren showed to their futures.

Reneline Hendricks, who is in gr. 11, she her community is faced with many challenges and a lot of children are not following their dreams. “The opportunities here are limited and I would like to work in media as a presenter one day, to motivate young people to follow their dreams regardless of their circumstances.”

Sizwe Jonas, who is the principal of Pearston Secondary School, says there are many learners in the community who are showing interest in agriculture. Because of this the school has started offering agricultural sciences as a subject to learners. “Leaving here today, we hope that learners will be enlightened about the career paths in agriculture as well as the various other career opportunities that are out there.”

Food For Mzansi is looking forward to meeting even more learners at the following stops on our VKB Food For Mzansi Agri Career Roadshow. Late registrations are still accepted for the scheduled Western Cape and Limpopo career days.

WESTERN CAPE

Tuesday, 30 July 2019, Hoër Landbouskool Paarl, Paarl

Wednesday, 31 July 2019, Bastiaanse Secondary School, Beaufort West

LIMPOPO

Tuesday, 6 Augustus 2019, Merensky High School, Tzaneen

Wednesday, 7 August 2019, Settlers High School, Settlers

  • For more information e-mail ivor@foodformzansi.co.za.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
Tags: Eastern CapeFood For MzansiGraaff-Reinett
Previous Post

Metjie turned her food hobby into a business

Next Post

Small-scale farmer support programme gives rural farmers a second chance

Duncan Masiwa

Duncan Masiwa

DUNCAN MASIWA is the assistant editor at Food For Mzansi, South Africa’s leading digital agriculture news publication. He cut his teeth in community newspapers, writing columns for Helderberg Gazette, a Media24 publication. Today, he leads a team of journalists who strive to set the agricultural news agenda. Besides being a journalist, he is also a television presenter, podcaster and performance poet who has shared stages with leading gospel artists.

Related Posts

Food For Mzansi serves as ideal launching pad for farmers

by Team Food For Mzansi
1st December 2023
0

Farmers share their gratitude towards Food For Mzansi for paving the way forward as they build their farming enterprises. From...

10 out 10 farms celebrate birthday

How Food For Mzansi put the country’s farmers on the map

by Team Food For Mzansi
28th November 2023
0

Ten farmers share their amazing success stories since being featured on Food For Mzansi. From securing new customers to being...

Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

by Vateka Halile
28th November 2023
0

Perturbed by the high levels of unemployment, a group of individuals brainstormed and launched the Kulathi Primary Co-operative with money...

10 out of 10: Farmers share what Food For Mzansi means to them

by Team Food For Mzansi
27th November 2023
0

"May the publication continue speaking the truth and may it continue to offer great platforms to farmers of all races."...

Next Post
Managing Director of Lima Rural Development Foundation, Duncan Stewart says, they want to help transform the agricultural sector and raise the level of black economic empowerment.

Small-scale farmer support programme gives rural farmers a second chance

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies
Inspiration

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

by Vateka Halile
1st December 2023
0

There is no stopping Anecia Arendse who has used childhood memories, tons of passion and acquired knowledge to build her...

Read more
ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

1st December 2023
Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

1st December 2023
In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

30th November 2023
Food for Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

Food For Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

30th November 2023

Act now for ‘Empathy in action’ disability inclusion campaign

ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

10 out of 10: Farmers share what Food For Mzansi means to them

Vacancy: Channel manager at Food For Mzansi Group

In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

Agrico and Nedbank team up to offer farmers nifty financing plans

RSS From FoodForAfrika.com

  • $2 Million investment in fertiliser financing for Kenyan smallholders
  • AfDB empowers Tanzanian horticulture with $2.5m boost
  • Malagasy scientist wins $150k grant

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 15 global awards in the first four years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Podcast: How to access fresh produce markets in SA

Food For Mzansi serves as ideal launching pad for farmers

Let this saucy oxtail recipe take you back down memory lane

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Login

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.