Enactus UKZN Awards Umbumbulu Farmers Skills Development Accreditation

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Twenty-one farmers from Umbumbulu south of Durban have been awarded a skills development accreditation in Plant Production by Enactus UKZN in partnership with Toutele Agriculture College South Africa and AgriSETA.

Through their Ubuntu Social Enterprise project, Enactus UKZN recognised the need to assist Asikhule Co-operatives - a farming community in Umbumbulu - by developing their skills in business and agriculture. Together with Toutele, Enactus UKZN provided an accredited skills development programme in Plant Production. It is an Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSETA) programme with a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 1 accreditation.

The course on agricultural education, presented by accredited Enactus UKZN facilitators, ran for a month and comprised 30% theory and 70% practical work, which involved creating an irrigation system for the farming community.

The young farmers were awarded their accredited certificates at a function in Umbumbulu at which Enactus UKZN General Secretary, Ms Ntandokazi Buthelezi said: ‘We’re here to reward them for all the work they have put in as students - they are now accredited farmers in Plant Production.’

Toutele CEO Mrs Gabbey Monkwe applauded Enactus UKZN for their dedication and thanked Asikhule Co-operatives for their committed involvement.

Words and Photographs: Hlengiwe Khwela