By Maile Matsimela
Young farmers from the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces recently gained valuable industry expertise through an intensive week-long wool-classification course held at the Woolshed facility of Glen College of Agriculture in Bloemfontein.
This transformative initiative, a collaboration between the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA), aims to strengthen South Africa’s agricultural value chain through youth empowerment and targeted skills development.
Experts in the Wool Industry Shared Their Knowledge
The course brought together experts from leading agricultural institutions, including BKB, Cape Wools and Grootfontein Agricultural College, united by a common goal: to standardise wool classification practices in line with NWGA guidelines, focusing in particular on the Free State and neighbouring regions.
The programme was facilitated by Annelize Smit van Niekerk from NWGA and Dr Andries Strauss from the DARD Research Unit. Presenters included industry specialists Innocentia Shiba (Cape Wools), Olona Jokozela (Grootfontein Agricultural College), Eben van Wyk (NWGA) and Rowen Birks (BKB).
George Madiba, acting general manager for Farmer Support and District Services at DARD, highlighted the programme’s strategic importance: “This initiative represents a crucial investment in agriculture’s future. By empowering young people with essential skills and knowledge, we’re building improved productivity and increased capacity within agribusiness, ensuring they can play meaningful and sustainable roles in our agricultural economy.”
Young Farmers Gained Skills for a Stronger Wool Sector
Participants came from farming communities across the two provinces, from towns such Wepener, Philippolis, Trompsburg, Brandfort, Sterkspruit and Burgersdorp. Many were young self-employed farmers who responded to the department’s call to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture.
The impact of the training was evident in participant feedback. Thembinkosi Mbele, a 32-year-old farmer from Trompsburg, expressed his enthusiasm: “I’ve acquired valuable knowledge and skills through this opportunity. I’m committed to building on this foundation and reaching even greater heights in my agricultural journey.”
