By Muifha Tshifhiwa
Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) has proudly announced yet another successful farmer from Undergraduate Programme.
Livhalani Takalani of Livhatr farm, is one among the first cohorts of agriculture graduates who had an opportunity to undertake that programme back in 2018. He was placed at successful citrus farmers, Nemaorani Citrus farm, and later Alicedale Citrus farm in Vhembe District.
In his tenure at those farms, Livhalani saved enough to buy himself a piece of land. The department assisted through funding for debushing, fencing, diesel generator, drips and mainline pipes, borehole, and borehole equipment, and 5000 litres tank.
The department’s intervention process helped the project to subsequently create permanent employment for two female youths and four seasonal jobs. The produce ranging from maize, jam tomatoes, mustard and butternut are sold to local markets.
Ms Rabelani Ramutangwa, assistant director said the initiative of Unemployed Graduate Programme, which was introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), is the 24 months intervention process that put agriculture graduates into hosting (farming) entities to access practical skills so they can become farmers.
This is in line with the Young Producers and Entrepreneurs Strategy (YPES). It is not only meant to attract and promote the sector among the youth through supporting the establishment of youth-owned or managed enterprise, but to also address the high rate of unemployment facing young people in particular, the rural migration and the ageing farmer population.
Mukhada Phindulo presents about the importance of a business plan to the Unemployed Graduates and Assistants Agricultural Practitioners (AAP) during the workshop.
Graduates will then be linked to government support programmes relating to their chosen enterprises and other potential funders; all graduates will be put in to a New Venture Creation Programme which will happen during the second year of the programme; and provide a ring-fenced resourcing mechanism such as access to land through land reform projects, PTOs, private land, access to finance through comprehensive producer support strategy, ring-fenced financial capacity building, extension support and market access among others.
This is to ensure that a clear road map is designed to provide opportunities for the graduates to participate meaningfully within the different components of the agricultural value chain, probably as job creators and not job seekers.
