( Growbox Nursery ) purely because of a need to feed my family , but over time I observed that the wider Hanover Park community could benefit from learning to grow their own food . The purpose I see for myself , is to uplift people by educating them on foodscaping and teaching them to sustain themselves by means of urban farming .
Kaap Agri Academy gave me the knowledge to grow produce in a more scientific and sustainable way , and I am grateful for that opportunity .”
Kaap Agri aims to use this programme to continue uplifting rural communities by means of education .
Kaap Agri Academy has trained over 460 new generation farmers , and alumni have become shining examples in the agricultural sector , for instance , the first black female vice-chairman of Grain SA and the first black-owned Halaal & Kosher Abbatoir in the Western Cape . The programme is very competitive and sought after , with 180 student applications received for 2022 ’ s programme .
“ I am inspired by the achievements of our graduates every year . They are a true testament to making the right choices every day . During the production year , farmers only have a few opportunities to make the right decisions to deliver success and I am proud that this class chose Kaap Agri to equip them with the knowledge and skills to continue to make the right choices for their farming businesses . We are proud to be part of their journey and look forward to what the class of 2022 will achieve ,” says Sean Walsh , CEO of Kaap Agri .
The Kaap Agri Academy is based in Porterville and courses take on a blended learning approach , with a combination of online learning , videobased learning and mandatory practical learning sessions . All training costs are covered by Kaap Agri , including tuition fees , transport , and accommodation . This fully sponsored training course allows for the empowerment of new generation farmers who have access to land , live in the Western or Northern Cape and who may not be able to afford tertiary education .
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