With June being Youth Month, there is a need to emphasise the crucial need for increased youth participation in the agricultural sector to ensure its long-term sustainability and growth.
“The future of our country and that of our agricultural sector hinges on the active involvement of our young people. We need to ignite a passion for farming, agribusiness, and the entire agricultural value chain among our youth,” emphasised Minister Steenhuisen.
To attract and retain young talent requires significant investment and concerted efforts through the entire value chain. This includes:
- Providing accessible and tailored financial assistance to young agripreneurs;
- Integrating modern agricultural education into the school curriculum from an early age, coupled with comprehensive vocational training programmes and mentorship or incubation opportunities;
- Facilitating equitable access to productive land and ensuring market linkages for young farmers, allowing them to participate meaningfully in value chains and achieve profitable returns;
- Promoting the adoption of innovation and technology to make farming more efficient and attractive;
- Promoting positive narratives about agriculture as a dynamic, innovative, and rewarding career path, showcasing the diverse opportunities beyond traditional farming, such as market agent opportunities, agricultural technology, logistics, research, and food processing.
“The energy, innovation, and adaptability of our young citizens are precisely what our agricultural sector needs to reach its full potential and ensure lasting food security,” the minister said.
Minister Steenhuisen calls upon all stakeholders, including all spheres of government, private sector, educational institutions and communities to lend their support in creating an enabling environment for the country’s youth to flourish in agriculture.
“We are looking forward to having progressive engagements and interventions as a way to commemorate Youth Month so that our young farmers can contribute in growing our economy,” Minister Steenhuisen concluded.
It should be noted that the Department of Agriculture offers bursaries to deserving students in agriculture related fields. Applications for the 2026 academic year are now open.
Application form link: https://www.nda.gov.za/images/Vacancies/bursaries/full-time-undergradua…
An excerpt from a government statement here.
Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash
