While the official unemployment rate has eased marginally to 32.7%, South Africa’s unemployment rate is still one of the worst in the world, with 7.8 million people unemployed. Even more concerning is the country’s youth unemployment. Accounting for over half of SA’s employable population, this unemployment statistic sits at 43%.
In order to highlight the many career opportunities within the agricultural sector, Bayer Crop Science is sponsoring the AgriCareers Roadshow to enable as many students as possible to learn about the many exciting and rewarding career options in agriculture. This nationwide project, presented by agricultural publication Food For Mzansi, introduces grade 9 to 12 learners to study and career opportunities in South Africa’s dynamic agriculture sector.
“Bayer supports the AgriCareers Roadshow as part of our focus in youth development, helping learners to discover the various opportunities that exist within agriculture,” says Liza Bohlmann, Media Liaison at Bayer Crop Science.
Pursuing a career within the very sector that produces the food that we eat not only offers many employment opportunities, but is also a vital industry to tackle issues of poverty, food security and environmental impact. The agricultural sector is also one of the most resilient sectors in terms of job creation “You can become anything from a farmer, scientist, lawyer, economist or technologist within the field of agriculture. The career options vary from working highly advanced artificial intelligence to studying microorganisms in the soil and everything inbetween. There is even a space for journalists specializing in reporting on agricultural matters” Bohlmann says.
The AgriCareers roadshow is expected to attract 20 000 learners in 2023, with nearly 7 000 learners having already attended events in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng.
Bohlmann was part of a panel of experts at Morgenzon Landbou Akademie in Mpumalanga and Bekker High School in Magaliesburg, sharing experiences and insights with the eager learners.
Other sponsors of the 2023 AgriCareers Roadshow include Laeveld Agrochem, Standard Bank, Kagiso Trust and the South African National Seed Organisation (Sansor).
“We are happy to support this initiative by Food for Mzansi and look forward to knowing that many of the bright young learners we’ve met along the way may follow a career in agriculture one day,” Bohlmann says.
Next stops on the nationwide roadshow include KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape in March, after which it will move to various schools within the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, and North West in April and May.
“By exposing young people to the endless possibilities in agriculture, we are not just changing their lives, we are transforming the face of farming and securing the future of our nation,” says Kobus Louwrens, Food For Mzansi co-founder.
For more information, go to https://agricareers.co.za/ and Working-at-Bayer | Bayer South Africa.
AgriCareers Roadshow dates:
- 17 April 2023: Northern Cape Rural TVET college – Upington, Northern Cape
- 19 April 2023: Augsburg Landbougimnasium – Clanwilliam, Western Cape
- 17 May 2023: Nampo Combined Agricultural School – Bothaville, Free State
- 19 May 2023: Wagpos High School – Brits, North West