DEPT EMBARKS ON AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS PROGRAMME FOR LEARNERS

The national Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the provincial Departments of Agriculture and Education will stage a two-day workshop aimed at tailoring plans that would encourage learners to pursue agricultural subjects at school. The pilot project on Agricultural Awareness Programme For The School Going Youth will be held at Kimberley’s Flamingo Casino on the 26 and 27 February 2007. Representatives from youth structures, agricultural and education fraternities will be in attendance.

Commenting on tomorrow’s workshop, MEC for Agriculture Dawid Rooi declared the workshop as ‘ a remedial act’ that will entrench the revolutionisation of the agricultural sector by targeting learners from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. “ The ownership and managerial boundaries of agriculture and agribusinesses should be shifted through the strategic enlistment of new entrepreneurs with advance skills. The objective of the pilot project is to create an integrative link between learners’ choice of agricultural studies, bursary schemes and experiential training. We’ll definitely succeed in informing, guiding and exposing learners to the careers in agriculture,” enthused MEC Rooi.

Representatives of Botswana’s College of Agriculture and a number of other stakeholders will be making presentations with various case studies being highlighted. MEC Dawid Rooi will render the keynote address. Learners, students and a number of other stakeholders will be attending the workshop, which will end on Friday. END

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi @ 083 255 8840 / tmothibi@grand.ncape.gov.za