POTCHEFSTROOM – The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has officially deployed 110 unemployed agricultural graduates to various commercial and emerging farms across the province to fight youth unemployment and boost food security.
Speaking during the official induction of the Unemployed Graduate Placement Programme in Potchefstroom on Monday, 17 August 2026, North West MEC Madoda Sambatha urged the youth to maximize this opportunity.
The participants, who are mostly alumni of regional institutions like the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture and the Taung Agricultural College, will undergo two years of rigorous, practical in-service training.
Sambatha encouraged the cohort to look beyond the immediate gains of the stipend and focus on long-term industry dominance. He challenged the graduates to use the programme as a stepping stone towards building sustainable careers and businesses in the agricultural sector, specifically urging them to develop an exit plan and work towards becoming agricultural entrepreneurs.
“Graduates must begin working on their exit plans while still participating in the programme. There are opportunities in business development, and government has funding mechanisms available to support agricultural enterprises. I encourage you to become agri-preneurs and make use of these opportunities,” he said.
Funded through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), this initiative forms a core part of government strategies to bridge the gap between academic theory and commercial farming realities. The department confirmed that the structured mentorship will equip the youth with critical production, management, and tech-driven agricultural skills.
As the 110 graduates spread out across North West farms this week, the initiative stands as a practical response to the twin challenges of youth joblessness and the need for younger, skilled operators within the agricultural economy.
Among the prominent beneficiaries of this initiative is Ontlametse Salvation Moile, an Animal Health Technician intern currently stationed at the Mahikeng State Veterinary Office. Speaking on her experience, Moile described the programme as an essential intervention for entering the workforce.
“I would like to thank the department for giving us the opportunity to gain experience, learn more and showcase our skills,” Moile stated. “Most importantly, this programme allows us to give back to our communities by sharing knowledge and guidance that can help farmers improve their agricultural enterprises.”
According to Moile, the hands-on exposure has fundamentally shifted the mindsets of many participants. She added that the programme has inspired many graduates to think beyond conventional employment and seriously consider establishing their own agricultural businesses in the future.
Supporting this view, mentor Malebo Mogopodi, owner of Thuo Agribusiness and a crop farmer from Phokeng, said young graduates have a critical role to play in the future of agriculture.
“Our farmers are ageing, and we are looking up to you to help sustain the industry and address challenges such as unemployment and food insecurity,” Mogopodi stated during a recent engagement aimed at empowering upcoming agricultural practitioners.
