By Jimmy Gcina and Jacquiline Malatji
Director for Vhembe District Masindi Maripa
The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) has officially launched its intensive entrepreneurial skills training program for the third cohort of unemployed agriculture graduates.
This flagship initiative, delivered in partnership with North West University (NWU), aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical demands of the modern agribusiness sector.
By providing accredited vocational development, the department is equipping young professionals with the “business of farming” skills necessary to transform from job seekers into job creators.
Phase1: Mopani and Vhembe Districts
The rollout commenced on 19 January 2026, for the first group comprising of graduates from the Mopani and Vhembe Districts. Participants have gathered at Jericho Hotel in the Nandoni area, Vhembe District, for a rigorous six-week curriculum. This initial phase is scheduled to conclude on 27 February 2026.
Phase 2: Capricorn, Sekhukhune, and Waterberg Districts
The program will expand the following week to include graduates from the remaining three districts. This second group is scheduled to undergo training from 26 January to 6 March 2026. Training will be hosted at Bolivia Lodge Polokwane, to ensure accessibility for participants from the Capricorn, Sekhukhune, and Waterberg regions.
Empowering the next generations
The curriculum focuses on essential entrepreneurial competencies, including financial management, market analysis, and sustainable agricultural practices. Upon successful completion of the course, LDARD and North West University will host a formal certification ceremony.
This event will celebrate the graduates’ new competencies and officially recognise them as qualified agricultural entrepreneurs ready to contribute to the province’s rural economy.
Through this strategic partnership, the Limpopo Provincial Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to youth empowerment and the long-term food security of the region.
The third cohort of unemployed agriculture graduates attend the intensive entrepreneurial skills training program that seeks to transform them from being job seekers into job creators.
