Tapping into the right talent in agriculture
Young people have the innovative solutions to transform the sector; there are various opportunities for a range of expertise – not just farmers.
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Young people need to broaden their minds in not thinking of being a farm worker of a farm owner. Farming colleges are not doing students justice,
but have the potential to produce the best young farmers in the world.
The organisations should encourage the renovation of agriculture as a sector to support the growth of industry and services. It makes life easier for people because it is a way of supplying the basic human needs. In the same way, many of the medicines that we use are made of plants that grow in various parts of the world. There’s no excuse for us not to produce young farmers. We do have the right infrastructure. It’s just a matter of right governance, management and the proper curriculum.
Not enough young people in South Africa see significant opportunities or appeal in the agricultural sector.
There are many careers in the space that can be harnessed by young people. You can find strategists, IT technicians, business development managers who work in the background to make sure that farmers are prosperous.
Here are 8 reasons why agriculture is needed more than ever and to choose an agriculture career.
Population is Increasing
To be able to feed the world, everyone is going to rely heavily on agriculture. With that comes the need for new technology, hard workers, creative minds, and college graduates that are ready to get into the workforce and support this ever-changing industry.
“New” Generation of Agriculture
Employers are having difficulties finding the right talent to put into unfilled positions, and 60% of them are shifting their focus to recruiting college graduates.
Job Diversity
Within the last 20 years, agriculture has expanded with a variety of careers to choose. There are meaningful jobs in production, economics, marketing, agribusiness, technology, sales, finance, microbiology, communications, and much more. There differentiated career opportunities in every aspect of the agricultural industry!
Shortage of College Graduates in Agriculture
The truth of the matter is, there just are not enough people going into an agricultural related program of study causing a shortage of qualified job seekers.
Industry Growth
Since the industry is growing at such a fast pace, there is high demand for qualified job seekers in every aspect of agriculture. Even more, the Agribusiness HR Review shows that 60% of employers are planning to do more college recruiting within the next 1-5 years.
Technology Advancements
Agricultural technologies are continually evolving to help improve productivity. With the new technology, comes a need for job seekers with the right education to be able to work with and develop the technology that will continue to shape the industry.
Increased Salary
To remain competitive and to secure the best talent in the industry, employers have been consistently increasing salaries. They have also offered better benefit packages to retain employees. Furthermore, qualified talent is being promoted now faster than any other generation has before.
Rewarding
Working in an agricultural related field is rewarding. You get the peace of mind knowing that you are making a positive impact on those around you. People that have careers in agriculture are passionate about what they do and want to see the industry be successful and prosperous. It’s rewarding to know that by working in an ag-related career, you are making a difference
Do you have an interest in the agriculture industry? Be sure to check out our Agriculture short courses to tap you into the right direction of agriculture.
Share your thoughts and experiences with us