THE FUSE

The skills available to farmers and agricultural businesses can have a direct impact on productivity, production costs and the ability to keep up with changes in the sector. This was at the centre of discussions in Mbombela when the national Department of Agriculture convened stakeholders to consider the Priority Skills and Occupations in Demand in the Agriculture Sector Report. The report provides a framework for identifying the skills and occupations needed to support the growth and development of agriculture. For farmers, the issue is not simply about having more people entering the agricultural sector, but about ensuring that workers have the practical and technical abilities required on farms and throughout the agricultural value chain. The discussions therefore highlighted the need for skills development that responds to the realities faced by producers and agricultural businesses.