The agricultural schools program launched at NAMPO Cape 2022 was attended by 200 learners from six schools. Alfreda Mars, coordinator of the NAMPO Cape Schools Programme, stated, “The feedback from both learners and teachers who attended the program last year was so positive that it was decided to extend the programme to involve more learners. Many of the current generation’s parents or family members are involved in some way in some farming or agricultural enterprise. However, learners often do not consider agriculture as a career. Through the NAMPO Cape Schools Programme, we believe we can stimulate learners’ interest in the agricultural sector as a possible career option.”
Mr Neil Simons, Chief Education Specialist of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) helped to identify the 21 schools that were invited this year. The WCED has also expanded their involvement and support for the programme and is taking responsibility for the transport costs for the 350 learners attending this year. Schools from the Eden Central Karoo, Cape Winelands, Metropole, West Coast and Overberg Education Districts were invited to the programme “The WCED realizes the value of the schools programme offered at NAMPO Cape as it supports and supplements the Grade 11 curriculum for Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Management and Agricultural Science in a practical way. Learners will also be made aware of the variety of fields of study they can follow to pursue a career in agriculture. The WCED value this opportunity to expose learners to the NAMPO Cape Expo. We believe this will inspire and empower them to make a meaningful contribution to food security in the future.”
According to Mr Dirk Troskie, Director: Business Planning and Strategy of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, they are very excited to release the resources to make the schools’ programme possible once again. “Agriculture is ideally placed to reach objectives such as economic growth and job creation in rural areas as well as to support food security throughout the province. For this reason, it is important to expose our young people to all facets of agriculture throughout its total value chain, including non-traditional elements such as 4th Industrial Revolution technology and advances in farming practices. To this end we would like to encourage learners to explore the total area of Nampo Cape, engage with all exhibitors and to ask as many questions as possible. We are looking forward to receiving them at our exhibition in the BKB Hall and to show them study and career opportunities. Finally, we want to congratulate the organizers with the bigger and better schools’ programme.”
Daneel Rossouw, Head of Sales for Agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking explains Nedbank’s involvement in the Schools Programme, “Nedbank is equally committed to sustainability, food security and empowering our youth. The schools programme at NAMPO Cape brings together all three of these vital aspects and is therefore the perfect platform for Nedbank to be involved in. We believe that, by unlocking the potential of these learners and offering them access to crucial resources and mentorship, we can inspire them to become the next generation of farmers to produce food in a sustainable manner and ensure food security for all South Africans into the future.”
Omnia’s Agriculture Division which is known for its proprietary Nutriology® model, is providing every learner attending the schools programme with a Reel Gardening Box. Mandla Mpofu, the Managing Director of Omnia’s Agriculture Division explains, “Each box contains various and carefully selected varieties of seed tapes which (with instructions) can feed a family of four for a year. Learners will be able to produce their own seasonal vegetables with the Reel Gardening Box and gain first-hand experience in contributing to food security, their community, and the power of the agriculture industry. As a business with sustainability at its core, we are proud to support the students at NAMPO through Reel Gardening and educating the next generation of South African farmers.”
The Nedbank Agricultural Schools Programme is presented from Wednesday, 13 to Friday 15 September in the Western Cape Department of Agriculture Tent. Here, learners will learn more about vertical farming systems, vegetable cultivation, genetic excellence and breeding planning, the role of the Department of Agriculture in sustainable agriculture and career opportunities and fields of study in agriculture. Nedbank will also equip the learners with knowledge about financial planning and student loans for possible post-school study. The programme also includes a practical part where the learners visit, among other things, the Nooitgedacht hydroponic farming at Bredasdorp Park, the grain trials where various companies test the latest cultivars, fertilization and crop protection, breed exhibitions in the Land Bank Livestock Tent, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s mobile meat processing unit.
Alfreda Mars concludes,”We are extremely grateful to all the sponsors involved in the schools programme, your generous contributions enable us to host the schools programme at NAMPO Cape 2023. We are looking forward to meeting the learners at the Nedbank Agriculture Schools Programme in the Western Cape Department of Agriculture Tent. The Youth in South Africa is the future of agriculture. To empower them in agriculture will bring stability in food security.”
See you there!
Entry tickets are available online from 1 July 2023 at www.ticketpros.co.za. Prices for online tickets are R80 for adults and R40 for school-age children. Pre-schoolers get in for free. There will be tickets available at the gates at R90 for adults. The expo runs from Wednesday, 13 to Friday, 15 September from 08:00 to 17:00 and Saturday, 16 September from 08:00 to 15:00. Visitors can contact the Cape Agulhas Tourism Office for accommodation on 028 424 2584 / 082 896 2225 or www.overberg-info.co.za
For more information about NAMPO Cape 2023, visit www.expo.org.za, contact Chrystal van Wyk on 028 050 1385 or send an email to admin@expo.org.za.
