« Back | Home » Farming, Forestry, Fishing & Conservation » Agriculture » Agriculture
Agriculture
What do you think of when you think of agriculture?
Do you see farmers in big bakkies driving along their farm roads, getting up early to milk their cows?
Or farm workers working in the fields, harvesting and pruning? Do you think that to be involved with agriculture means that you have to be either a farmer or a farm worker?
Nothing could be further than the truth!
Agriculture today has gone high-tech. It had to, because keeping agriculture productive and profitable for our farmers, and all of us that depand on them, requires research that is every bit as complex as that required for the space program!
Agricultural scientists use satellites to examine things like water use of plants in certain areas of the Western Cape to help farmers use water more efficiently.
Many different kinds of scientists work in agriculture: microbiologists, chemists, veterinarians, stock researchers, engineers, plant pathologists, nutritionists and many other specialities.
What they all have in common is that they are working out how to grow crops, raise livestock, produce renewable raw materials for industry and help preserve our environment.
Source: Agri-FUN, published by the Department of Agriculture: Western Cape. Click here for more information
South Africa needs well trained agricultural experts at all levels to supply our rapidly growing population with food. These experts will also have to ensure that food and food sources are unpolluted and safe for the consumer and that the environment is utilised and managed in such a way that it can be preserved for posterity.
Source: Stellenbosch University. Click here for more information
The different climates and soil types in our country means that many different types of crops can be grown and this creates jobs for many people. There are jobs in agriculture for unskilled and semi-skilled workers as well as drivers, artisans, managers, engineers, IT experts, scientists and more.
Some study options to consider:
- Diploma in Agriculture (one year): Elsenburg College
- BSc/BCom: Agricultural Economics (Scarce Skill): Stellenbosch University, University of Pretoria, University of KwaZulu-Natal/ University of the Free State
- BSc Biotechnology (Scarce Skill): University of the Western Cape, University of Pretoria (3 years full time)
- ND Biotechnology (Scarce Skill): Tshwane University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology, Durban Institute of Technology (3 years full time)
- BSc Agricultural Engineering (Scarce Skill): University of KwaZulu Natal (4 years)
- BSc Agricultural Food Science (Scarce Skill): University of Stellenbosch, University of Pretoria
- ND Food Technology (Scarce Skill): Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- BSc Vetinary Biology (Scarce Skill): (4 years) or Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (3 years): University of Pretoria
- BSc Agricultural Viticulture/Oenology (Scarce Skill): University of Stellenbosch (4 years)
- BSc (Agric)Pasture/Grassland (Scarce Skill): Most Universities offering Agricultural Studies
Learnerships: Click here for more information
NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN PLANT PRODUCTION NQF LEVEL 1 AND/OR LEVEL 4 in the following study fields:
- Viticulture
- Vegetables
- Fruit Production
