Parliament - The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has budgeted over R22 million for the envisaged National Youth Service for Agriculture programme.
Tabling the department's budget on Wednesday, Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said young people were faced with different challenges, including a lack of opportunities, disease, hunger and a shortage of skills.
In response to these challenges, the department hopes to expose youth to hands-on experience in agriculture, forestry and fisheries through the National Youth Service for Agriculture.
She said it was important to make the youth part of an inclusive economy. "This will be done by providing strong linkages with the bursary scheme, internships and mentorship linked to incubator programs," the minister said.
About 290 youth will receive support in the form of bursaries going towards scarce skills with an additional 183 graduates benefiting from internships.
The minister said a further 265 young people will also undergo mentorship training through incubator programmes with institutions like the Perishable Products Export Control Board, the National Wool Growers Association and others.
"In total, 938 young people will benefit through targeted skills development initiatives while also strengthening small and medium sized enterprises through partnerships with other government departments to ensure that agro-processing is brought closer to the production areas," she said.
In the next quarter, the department will look into the possibility of signing an agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) to make sure that there is alignment of agricultural production and agro-processing cooperation.
This, she said, will include the promotion of youth entrepreneurship involvement through agro processing grants.
"More than R99 million was set aside to increase agricultural production. In the next six months, both the dti and the department will identify an area of investment to develop and promote community-based production models on fruits, essential oils and agro-processing," she added.
