By Maphuti Mongatane
On the opening day of Nampo 2025, Lebogang Mashala, the editor of African Farming, and Maphuti Mongatane, African Farming’s Business Development Manager, had a revealing conversation with students from the Flavius Mareka TVET College at the Coca-Cola stand.
These students, eager to dive into the agricultural field, revealed a significant disconnect between their theoretical education and practical knowledge. They struggled to name prominent farmers or farms in South Africa, highlighting a crucial gap in their education.
This experience underscored an urgent need: aligning academic curriculums with the practical demands of the agricultural industry. It’s clear that we, as a nation, need to foster stronger partnerships between educational institutions, corporate sponsors, government departments and financial institutions. By working together, we can create pathways for these students to gain hands-on experience and practical skills.
The role of corporates, banks and other stakeholders is crucial. Together, we can support these students by linking them with established farmers who can offer mentorship and real-world training on their farms. This hands-on approach is essential for transforming theoretical knowledge into actionable skills, ensuring the next generation of farmers is prepared to contribute to the agricultural sector.
We are at a pivotal moment. By uniting media platforms, educational bodies and the agricultural community, we can address this challenge and turn it into an opportunity. It’s time to take concrete steps to bring basic agricultural skills back into schools, colleges and universities, and to ensure our youth are equipped to thrive in the farming landscape.
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