WC Dept of Agriculture upskills 3500 agri-workers to boost sector

19 October 2023

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture provided skills development training to 3 541 workers in the agriculture sector in the last financial year, increasing their employability and helping to increase human capital in the province’s agriculture sector.

This was revealed during the tabling of the Department’s Annual Report for 2022/23.

In industries that are as labour-intensive as agriculture, productivity is determined by the skills level of workers. That is why it is so important that new techniques are continually developed and taught to the workers that can utilise them.

The Department has shown a remarkable commitment to increasing skills across the sector, with the ultimate goal of allowing our agri-businesses to remain competitive, grow their yields, and employ even more of our people.

In addition, the Department runs one of the premier agricultural higher education colleges in the country, the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute. 112 students graduated from the Institute with higher education qualifications that will no doubt add value to the agricultural sector, while the Department also awarded 109 bursaries for higher education to deserving students from formerly disadvantaged groups within the year.

There were also 65 learners participating in learnership programmes at the Department, gaining the opportunity to learn valuable skills on the job. In all, nearly R64 million was spent by the Department on the Agricultural Education and Training Programme in 2022/23.

MPP Andricus van der Westhuizen: “The DA believes that education and skills development open the door to opportunity. That is why it is brilliant to see the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s commitment to this principle.

Through their extensive skills development programme, both at higher education level and in the form of less formal short courses, they are empowering the agri-workers in our province. Where the DA governs, we will continue using every lever at our disposal to expand access to opportunity and prosperity for our residents.”

Issued by Andricus van der Westhuizen, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, 19 October 2023