PROGRESS ON THE ISOE PROJECTS OF SCIENTIFIC ROETS

1. PROGRESS ON THE ISOE PROJECTS OF SCIENTIFIC ROETS Farm Worker Qualification Recognition of Prior Learning: NQF 1 Animal Production Farm Worker Recruitment System Presented by Mandla Rangana

2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES • To investigate the existing need, inputs and suggestions from commercial farmers regarding the content and the framework appropriate for a “farm worker occupational qualification”. • To capture, analyse and design the appropriate farm worker occupational qualification. • To investigate the need to create a one-stop-shop for the local farming community. This would be an RPL tool (for NQF 1: Animal Production) for farm workers and a farm worker recruitment system provided as a service to farmers. • Present results to AgriSETA

3. APPROACH AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES • Farm worker Occupational Qualification Project.xls

4. SURVEY DATES Interview Dates with Commercial farmers 4

5. PROJECT TOOLS USED… THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONNAIRE WAS USED DURING THE SURVEY: Farmer worker occupational qualification questionare.doc

6. SURVEY FEEDBACK • A total of 16 questionnaires were filled during the visits. Inputs and suggestions received from farmers were very good. • These farmers are involved in different production enterprises within East Griqualand and Underberg area as listed below.

7. TYPES OF FARMING PRACTICED Farming practiced in the area of Kokstad, Cedarville, Matatiele, Swartberg and Underberg are as follows: Beef farmers Maize farmers Sheep and Goat farmers Dairy farmers Horse Studs (breeders) Mixed farming Vegetable production 7

8. FARMING SKILLS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL • Tractor driving • Animal milking • Sorting of farm produce • Mechanised planting • Mechanised harvesting • Application of farm pesticides, herbicides, fungicides (Mechanised) • Animal handling (dipping, vaccination, external and internal pest control, castrating, ear- tagging, branding) • Animal Medication • Mechanics (Vehicle or machine repair) • Machine milking • Bulk feeding of animals (feedlotting) • Gardening • Maize spraying

9. EQUIPMENT THAT MUST BE OPERATED • Mf 440 • JD seed drills • De loyal • M2 silage • Tractors • Silage cutters • Front end loader • Back pack Spray • Secateurs • Delaval Machine (Milking) • Welding equipment • Animal branding equipment • Welger baler 9

10. The following skills were recommended by farmers: Sorting of farm produce Veld management (rotational grazing) Mechanics (Vehicle or machine repair) Mechanised harvesting Bulk feeding of animals Application of farm pesticides, herbicides, fungicides (Mechanised) Application of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, (Hand Spray) Waste management FARMING SKILLS-RECOMMENDED 10

11. Mechanised planting Animal milking Gardening Animal handling (dipping, vaccination, external and internal pest control, castrating, ear- tagging, branding) Packaging of farm produce Sheep shearing FARMING SKILLS-RECOMMENDED 11

12. OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED BY FARM WORKERS • Reading and Writing (Basic Arithmetic) • Budgeting of their income • Training of Horses • Trail guiding • Chainsaw, brush cutter operation • Construction • Fencing • Security • Farrier labour • Public relations

13. OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED BY FARM WORKERS • Welding • Chain saw operator • Forklift driver • Basic understanding of business: what is profit, how does debt work? • Operation of chain-saw • Animal control • Work ethics • Artificial insemination

14. OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED BY FARM WORKERS • Dairy hygiene • Milking machine hygiene/washing • Basic first aid • Hydroponics knowledge • Metal work • Grinder driller • Scales, testing, mixing of chemicals • Fencing • Water pipe repairs • Recognition of alien plants and weeds

15. OTHER PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES CONSIDERED BY EMPLOYERS • Writing skills • Reading skills • Physical fitness or strength • Willingness to learn new things • Being able to work with others in a team • Honesty and Reliability • Decision-making ability • Oral communication • Contactable references • Good health • Number of years experience

16. LEVELS OF DEMAND FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS • Farm manager – Very low (less than five more staff needed) • Supervisors - Very low (Less than 5 more staff needed) • Specialised labour – Average (5 to 10 more staff needed) • Skilled labourers – Average (5 to 10 more staff needed) • Unskilled labour - Very high (30 more staff needed)

17. INTANGIBLE” ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE LOOKED FOR WHEN EMPLOYING A FARM LABOURER • happy personality, • self motivated, • numeracy and understanding of units of measure hectares, • pleasant personality, • questioning, • little or no social problems, • communication is extremely necessary and vital both ways, • doing work at the best level • Honesty, • Intelligence, • hard working • neat, • well mannered, • healthy, • respectful, • born in the area, • experience, • married or permanent partner,

18. DISQUALIFIERS FROM BEING EMPLOYED AS A FARM LABOURER • Lack of References, • Inability to communicate, • Need for family housing, • Previous criminal record, • Bad reputation, • Lack of experience, • No local knowledge and local language, • Bad body language, • Alcohol abuse and drugs, • Lack of skills, lazy, • Poor relations with other staff, • Not doing work at the best level, • Not honest

19. SALARIES PAID TO FARM EMPLOYEES BY FARMERS PER MONTH • Farm managers R10 000- R20 000 or more • Supervisors R2 000- R5 000 • Skilled labourers R 1300-2000 • Unskilled labourers R1300-2000

20. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES THAT THE FARMS ARE INVOLVED IN • Farm managers - No training offered • Specialised labourers - Informal training programme and no training offered • Related supervision – No structured training offered • Skilled labour - No training offered • Unskilled labour - No training offered • None of the farmers interviewed have taken part in an AgriSETA BIWA programme

21. THE FOLLOWING CAN BE DONE BY AGRISETA TO HELP ADDRESS ON-FARM SKILLS SHORTAGE • Some sort of literacy programme, • Beef, maize, hay farming skills • Hands-on practical courses nearby i.e. in Swartburg • Offer more courses that are relevant to our business e.g. basic mechanics, teach bricklaying ,woodwork and metalwork, teach animal husbandry.

22. CURRENT WAYS OF RECRUITING SKILLED FARM LABOURERS • Word of mouth • Youngsters who grow up on the farms • Applications for advertised posts • Family and friends • Word of mouth then on a trial basis work for three months and then sign contract if suitable Most farmers would use the Farm Worker Recruitment System if it were available

23. MOST FARMERS THINK THAT RPL WILL BENEFIT BOTH EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS Help to get the right person for the appropriate job, Experienced farm workers will be given certificates Improve all aspects of farm productivity Qualified workers will be allocated for specific jobs To enable them in bettering their skills Improve productivity Acknowledge experience with pay, good for self esteem and work performance Making the worker proud of his output and achievement

24. REASONS WHY FARMERS WOULD ENROL FARM WORKERS FOR RPL Appreciation for the years spent on my farm “ I think they will appreciate the recognition. This is a very good idea” A formal structured assessment program Length of the course on the farm To recognise skills learned over the past years They will be more productive Education builds self-esteem No extra cost to the farmer, not much time away from work

25. CONCLUSION • More inputs will be invited • A “Farm Worker Occupational Qualification” will be developed based on these inputs • An “RPL system” is being developed in collaboration with local farmers • A “Farm Worker Recruitment System” is being developed 25

26. WHERE ARE WE BASED? • The company Head Office is based at 96 Hope Street, Kokstad. Projects as far as North West Province, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, northern KwaZulu-Natal and the southern parts of the Eastern Cape are managed. • Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd can be reached at: • P.O. Box 461, Kokstad, 4700. • Tel/fax (039) 727 1515, • Web: www.scientificroets.com

27. Invitation! Visit our offices at 96 Hope Street, Kokstad (Renovated Masonic Building)