The Alfred Nzo District Municipality together with the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA) have officially partnered to roll out a comprehensive Potato Production Skills Development Programme. This ground-breaking initiative aims to equip 500 small-scale farmers across the district with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the competitive agricultural sector.
According to the statement issued by the ANDM communications unity, the program is designed to provide emerging farmers with short skills training in potato farming practices and agricultural mechanization. By doing so, it seeks to catalyze the commercialization of small-scale farming, enabling participants to compete in the broader agri-economy. The top 100 achievers from the training cohort will benefit from mechanized production support and will be assisted in connecting with buyers.
This partnership signals a new era of inclusive agricultural development in Alfred Nzo. The aim is to create a skilled and self-sufficient farming community that can actively contribute to food security and local economic development. The initiative is firmly aligned with the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes integrated, locally driven service delivery and economic planning.
ANDM further says, the program also supports the broader vision of the Alfred Nzo Agri-Parks initiative, which aims to increase the level of production within the agricultural sector, intensify food security, and stimulate economic growth and development. The Agri-Parks program has identified potatoes as a high-impact commodity with strong market demand, favourable agro-climatic conditions in the region, and potential for scalable commercial production.
The Alfred Nzo District Municipality will retain responsibility for: Recruitment of trainees across Matatiele, Umzimvubu, Mbizana, and Ntabankulu, Overall project coordination and management, Monitoring and Evaluation in collaboration with partners, Community mobilization and stakeholder engagement.
