SA Strawberry School

Developing soft fruit production in South Africa was always going to be a challenge for Well pict European. As the industry develops, the issue of good labour has become more and more crucial.

As the strawberry industry in George has taken off the need for semi-skilled labour has become increasingly greater. However, due to problems related to South Africa's past, illiteracy levels are high and there is a shortage of this kind of labour. In July 2005 a programme was initiated by the George Strawberry Growers to address this problem.

The Farm Worker Learnership Scheme was introduced under the auspices of AGRI SETA and the South Cape College in George, and to provide basic education to those workers who have very little formal education.

In partnership with Well Pict South Africa, the South Cape College, a Further Education and Training provider, delivers the theoretical training to the students. As well as facilitating the theory, the South Cape College also provides student support on a more personal basis. A qualified social worker involved in HIV and aids training and awareness, and can be contacted for any additional support, in order for them to succeed in their educational goals.

How it works:
The South African Government has made available grants to subsidise supplementary education through learnerships. This means that the expense of educating the leabour force is shared between the farmer and the government. In order to qualify, the candidate must complete a theoretical and practical syllabus. Applicants from all of the Well Pict SA growers in the area were evaluated in terms of their standard of education; the scheme provides courses on literacy, numeracy, agribusiness principles, mechanization, computer skills and management producivity. there are barious grades within these, which allow students to progress from one to an other. Specialist training is also provided in areas such as tractor maintentnace. training takes place in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, so all language groups are catered for.

It is Well Pict SA's belief that for the strawberry industry to be sustainable, it is important that upliftment should take place at all levels, creating better productivity, greater job satisfaction and increasing opportunities for all.

November 2005