By Obed Makgoale
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) through its Directorate: National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) has rolled out an informative enterprise development workshop, which aims to capacitate young farmers aspiring to move from small-stockholder farmers to commercial farmers.
More than 20 youths from surrounding communities of Lephalale such as Seleka, Kauletsi, Mongalo, Mokuruanyane, Shongoane and etc, attended the workshop held on 04 March 2022 at Elephant Springs Hotel, Bela-Bela.
To date, the DALRRD has assisted these young farmers through its NARYSEC Programme that has enabled them to form different cooperatives (co-ops). In these co-ops, they focus on different agricultural activities such goat farming, crop production, and various enterprises amongst them; transport, shops, fashion design (sewing and knitting) and others.
Delivering presentation on cooperative governance, DALRRD Cooperatives and Enterprise Development Deputy Director, Queen Mabunda indicated that statistics shows that a lot of cooperatives have been formed but collapsed due to several reasons such as lack of training, skills, non-compliance to the Cooperative Act. “Submission of annual returns is imperative regardless of whether the cooperative made profit or not,” Mabunda advised.
NARYSEC programme seeks to equip unemployed rural youth with the appropriate skills needed to gain access to employment opportunities and engaging in productive activities. Young people are offered training to usher them smoothly into the business fraternity. The NARYSEC Programme in the department has since assisted number of unemployed young people especially those coming from disadvantaged communities. The 2020 and 2021 financial year intake saw some youths assuming important roles in the agricultural sector.
National Youth Development Agency in Waterberg District was amongst the stakeholders that made presentations to equip young people with much needed knowledge and skills particularly on funding and skills development.
