BEACON OF HOPE FOR THE IMPOVERISHED NORTHERN CAPE: THE STORY OF STATUTORY LEVIES IN THE RAISINS INDUSTRY
The Vine Academy and Model Farm in Kakamas
Mathilda Van Der Walt
“Raisins South Africa is a beacon of hope in the Northern Cape and took it upon itself to ensure that graduate interns are placed within key sectors and with various partners in the agriculture sector.”
Raisins SA realised that education plays a crucial role in the transformation as well as the country’s economic growth of South Africa’s agriculture industry, and that skills development should be treated as an investment, that is strategic to the raisins industry.
It started out as a dream to create hope for the Northen Cape. Prior to this initiative, there were no tertiary institutions or facilities in the Northern Cape where either aspirant vineyard farmers or school leaving individuals could go to develop their theoretical as well as practical skills for the viticultural part of the agricultural sector.
Viticulture is the study of vines and everything that has to do with the production of either raisin, table or wine grapes. The economy in the Province is mostly dependent on farming, and the nearby Orange River plays a key role in supplying water. Farmers from the Kakamas area are now prime exporters of table grapes. The region also exports peaches, dried fruit, raisins, oranges and dates.
Raisins SA is a non-profit company based in Upington and mainly funded through statutory levies paid by producers of dried vine fruit – these include Golden raisins, Thompson raisins, SA Sultanas and Currants).
Raisins SA played a crucial role in the formation of the Vine Academy and Model Farm through partnerships with the Martin Oosthuizen High School (one of the oldest agricultural schools in South Africa), the Northern Cape Provincial Government and Kgodiso Development Fund. The Academy was established in the town of Kakamas in the Northern Cape and was officially launched on 7 June 2023.
The purpose of the Academy is to address specific academic and skills challenges within the vine industry in South Africa. It focuses on the learners from the surrounding communities to benefit them directly as a catalyst for sustainable growth and economic development within the agricultural sector. The Academy offers students an opportunity to gain practical skills in the vine industry in preparation for employment opportunities. The industry contributes to scholarships for selected students to complete their high school career and further studies at the Academy.
On 18 July 2024, Mandela Day, the Academy held their very first graduation day celebrations, where 15 students graduated.
“The aim of this programme, was to place unemployed graduates, with agriculture related qualifications, on relevant farms or enterprises within the agricultural value chain to acquire relevant on-the-job entrepreneurial and business skills to enable them to establish and manage their own enterprises,” said Ms Mase Manopole, MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development, and Land Reform in the Northern Cape
