By Muifha Tshifhiwa & Nape Masemola
Takalani Livhalani is scouting in his project at Ngwenani ya Ha- Mapholi.
The Unemployed Graduates Programme (UGP) begins to bear fruit. Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) is proud to present the beneficiaries of UGP by the names of Takalani Livhalani and Lutendo Tshikudo.
The two were contractually deployed, with a stipend, in different farms to get hands-on training as one of the requirements of the programme. Takalani was placed at successful citrus farms in Vhembe District - Nemaorani and later joined Alicedale. However, Luthendo was placed at Khumbe Nursery specialising in producing palm plants, indigenous plants, fruit plants, vegetable crops and herbs and spices.
With the savings from their stipend paid for by LDARD, the two secured land to start their own projects soon after their contracts lapsed. Lutendo built own chicken coop, bought chicken cages, 200 each of point of lay and day-old chicks as well as drip irrigation pipes. LDARD through Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) provided additional infrastructure to the latter in a form of de-bushing, 3.8 ha fence, diesel generator, drips and mainline pipes, borehole and borehole equipping, and 5000 l tank.
Their produce are currently on the shelves in local retailers. They are currently self-employed and created additional jobs to the much-needed community.
The high rate of youth unemployment, rural migration and the ageing farmer population necessitated the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to develop this kind of initiative - Young Producers and Entrepreneurs strategy (YPES). The YPSES strategy attempts to advance the thrust of the national youth policy 2020 which aims to support the establishment of youth owned or managed enterprises, youth entrepreneur and other activities that will encourage the active participation of youth in the Agricultural sector to bridge the gap of ageing producers, Poverty, and unemployment. Since 2018/19 financial year, funds were allocated within the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) framework for the placement of agricultural graduates in farms for the entrepreneurial development.
Although the main aim of the programme is the provision of unemployed graduates with on job training, the programme also seeks to contribute to increased food production through the development of a pool of competent young producers and create an enabling environment to support the establishment of youth entrepreneurs by linking participants with potential entities that support development of the entrepreneurs.
Targeted beneficiaries of the programme are qualified unemployed graduates in agricultural field aspiring to venture into entrepreneurial projects related to agricultural production and value chain. Of the targeted unemployed graduates, those with diplomas receive priority and should constitute a minimum of 80% of the total intake. Maximum of 50% to 55% should be women and a minimum of 3% should be people with disabilities. This is aimed at closing the gender gap within the industry as well ensuring that the interests of the most vulnerable members of the society are taken into consideration.
Since its inception, a total number of 380 graduates already participated in the programme and others such as Takalani and Lutendo, are fully fledged entrepreneurs.
Peppers proudly produced from the beneficiary of Unemployed Graduate Initiative, Livhalani Takalani.
Eggplant, a nutrient rich crop is one of the produce at Lutendo’s project.
Fully fledged entrepreneur, Lutendo Tshikhudo collects eggs of her layers which are destined for market.
