A partnership formed between Mnquma local municipality and five Eastern Cape tertiary institutions has so far given more than 120 young people training in farming, crop production, animal husbandry and business management.
The strategic partnership is aimed at assisting communities with new skills and education, as well as identifying new research areas.
Many of its beneficiaries have already started their own small, medium or micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) using their new skills.
Mnquma spokesman Loyiso Mpalantshane said in 2014 the municipality forged partnerships with the University of Fort Hare (UFH), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), Walter Sisulu University (WSU), King Hintsa Training College and Fort Cox College of Agriculture.
Yesterday a ceremonial launch was held in Butterworth, where the joint venture was sealed with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Mnquma and all five of the education institutions.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Mnquma executive mayor Baba Ganjana said the municipality had realised that in order to develop and grow its economy it needed some partners.
“These institutions have the capacity to conduct the research we need, and to formulate plans and implement them.
“Hence we decided to work hand-in-hand with them, especially in programmes that target the youth,” said Ganjana.
“This is an investment in our young people, because we expect them to get the training and apply those skills to develop the municipality.”
Ganjana said the role of the municipality was to identify beneficiaries and source funding.
“We want agriculturists here to grow and change the face of the municipality’s agricultural sector.
“We also give opportunity to those who have not finished matric to do short courses offered in the agriculture faculties,” said Ganjana.
Dr Ntombovuyo Wayi, who represented UFH at the launch, said her institution aimed to facilitate capacity building, to provide training and to conduct research.
“We are hoping to expand our role and provide other services to the municipality such as exchange programmes, and we are hoping to put in place learnership programmes and bursaries to meet the financial need,” said Wayi.
One of the beneficiaries, Mzoxolo Mngeni, said the animal production training he received from Fort Cox College had helped him to start his own pig farm.
“Not only was I taught how to do the farming properly but I learnt business skills as well.”
Mngeni said his plan was to grow the business, create employment and share the skills and knowledge he had acquired in the training.
Municipal manager Sindile Tantsi said tertiary institutions should not be “ivory towers” but rather reach out and assist with development at community level.
“The poor skills-base challenge will be ameliorated through these strategic partnerships,” he said. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Boost for business of farming
The strategic partnership is aimed at assisting communities with new skills and education, as well as identifying new research areas.
Many of its beneficiaries have already started their own small, medium or micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) using their new skills.
Mnquma spokesman Loyiso Mpalantshane said in 2014 the municipality forged partnerships with the University of Fort Hare (UFH), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), Walter Sisulu University (WSU), King Hintsa Training College and Fort Cox College of Agriculture.
Yesterday a ceremonial launch was held in Butterworth, where the joint venture was sealed with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Mnquma and all five of the education institutions.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Mnquma executive mayor Baba Ganjana said the municipality had realised that in order to develop and grow its economy it needed some partners.
“These institutions have the capacity to conduct the research we need, and to formulate plans and implement them.
“Hence we decided to work hand-in-hand with them, especially in programmes that target the youth,” said Ganjana.
“This is an investment in our young people, because we expect them to get the training and apply those skills to develop the municipality.”
Ganjana said the role of the municipality was to identify beneficiaries and source funding.
“We want agriculturists here to grow and change the face of the municipality’s agricultural sector.
“We also give opportunity to those who have not finished matric to do short courses offered in the agriculture faculties,” said Ganjana.
Dr Ntombovuyo Wayi, who represented UFH at the launch, said her institution aimed to facilitate capacity building, to provide training and to conduct research.
“We are hoping to expand our role and provide other services to the municipality such as exchange programmes, and we are hoping to put in place learnership programmes and bursaries to meet the financial need,” said Wayi.
One of the beneficiaries, Mzoxolo Mngeni, said the animal production training he received from Fort Cox College had helped him to start his own pig farm.
“Not only was I taught how to do the farming properly but I learnt business skills as well.”
Mngeni said his plan was to grow the business, create employment and share the skills and knowledge he had acquired in the training.
Municipal manager Sindile Tantsi said tertiary institutions should not be “ivory towers” but rather reach out and assist with development at community level.
“The poor skills-base challenge will be ameliorated through these strategic partnerships,” he said. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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