TRAINING
– another example of how we can do more if we
stand together
O
ver the past number of years, many role-players in the
agricultural sector have been trying to make a success
of transformation in the industry. Developing farmers is
like any other type of human development – it is all about
the person.
If we are to have true and sustainable development, then we need
to find the person where he is and take him from there to where he
wants to be – it is not about “giving things” and living out our own
dreams through another person. We must build on the foundation
that exists.
Farmers of all types and capabilities face similar challenges – the
weather, the cost of mechanisation, production costs, labour issues,
market challenges and many more. One of the major challenges that
we face in the field of farmer development is the lack of knowledge
(both academic and practical), and a shortage of relevant skills.
Oprah Winfrey says “If you know better, you do better” – and this
is why Grain SA was so very pleased to enter into a Service Level
Agreement (SLA) with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) on
training for developing farmers. Through this partnership we were
able to reach more farmers and offer them training.
During 2013, Mr Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA and Dr Shadrack
Moephuli, CEO of the ARC, signed a SLA to specifically focus on the
following deliverables (quote from the SLA): “The ARC to transfer
funds to Grain SA for the training of grain farmers in the different
provinces. The fund is allocated for training targeted at smallholder
farmers in the rural farming areas of South Africa.
11
March 2014
GRAIN SA
JANE MCPHERSON,
programme manager: Grain SA Grain Farmer Development Programme
1: Learning about boom sprayer calibration in the introduction to soy-
bean course.
2: This is how you do calibration – dealt with in the introduction to
maize course.
3: More on irrigation.
4: There was such a good spirit among the attendees on the welding
course.
5: How to dig a profile hole – part of the introduction to maize course.
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