By Alani Janeke
Grain SA held several discussions with exhibitors and partners at Nampo 2025 as part of its preparation to have Nampo-Tech, a training academy for the agricultural sector, up and running by 2026.
The continuous innovation taking place within the agricultural sector, as well as the growing demand for tradesmen and technicians, is the driving force behind the establishment of Nampo-Tech, an accredited training academy for the agricultural sector.
During a Nation in Conversation session at the recent 2025 Nampo Harvest Day, Dr Dirk Strydom, managing director of Nampo, said Grain SA had spoken to stakeholders in the industry during that week about their possible involvement in Nampo-Tech, as well as about the technical and tradesmen skills the agricultural sector needs.
“Nampo-Tech will be an industry-integrated training academy that will support the agricultural sector by equipping students with the technical and vocational skills needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving world of grain production and the associated value chains,” a briefing document states. “The academy will focus on ensuring the long-term profitability, competitiveness and sustainability of the grain agriculture sector.”
John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture, gave his support to this training academy and said he believes the future of agriculture, also in terms of training, must focus on synergy between government and the private sector.
Stefan Nel, managing director of Case IH, said they would also support such a training academy, especially given the competition in the industry for good technicians and tradesmen. He noted during the session that they have to adjust salaries for their technicians annually to retain them, and that a salary for a good technician or mechanic can be as high as R170 000 per month, depending on the person’s skills and training.
Max Berger, agricultural attaché for the German embassy, said a model of synergy between the German government and private sector is already working very well and career opportunities in technical skills in Germany are being marketed as just as important as other roles that were previously sometimes seen as more important.
