There are many thousands of new farmers in South Africa who have access to arable land but don’t have the skills or support they need to grow a sustainable farming business. Buhle Farmers’ Academy is a non-profit organisation that trains, mentors and supports these aspiring farmers – How to take an Online Agriculture Course. Applications at the end of this paragraph.
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Training Courses with Buhle
We offer holistic courses covering all the farming and management skills that new farmers need (see Programme section for more detail), and trainees come from all over the country to learn at our campus near Delmas, Mpumalanga. Our farmer support officers mentor as many of our graduates as possible, and we manage several programmes providing financial support to some of our most promising alumni.
Since we opened our doors in the year 2000 we have grown from strength to strength, and have now trained about 6 000 emerging farmers – half of them women and 65% of them youth – in vegetable, crops, poultry and livestock production, and mixed farming. Even better, about 12 000 jobs have been created due to Buhle, based on the assumption that for every new farmer established at least one additional job is created.
Our Mission
Buhle’s mission is train and support aspiring farmers from across South Africa to run farming businesses that are both profitable and sustainable. The effect is that we are helping to alleviate poverty by creating jobs, while helping to ensure food security.
Our People
Our staff are the people who make it all happen, and behind us is the highest authority of our organisation, the Board of Trustees of the Food Health Hope Foundation. The Board oversees our vision, mission and activities, donating their time, knowledge and experience to help grow and guide our organisation.
Our Partners
We are extremely grateful for our partners, who share our dream of empowering new farmers – and enable us to make this dream a reality.
practice in developing new farmers, in a model that has five essential pillars:
- A soundtheoretical knowledge basein agricultural technology
- Competency basedpractical skillstraining
- Training in farmbusiness management
- Training in appropriatelife skills
- Effectivefollow-up and supportservices.
For more information, please view theProspectus.
1. Admission requirements
Our courses cater for those who have a passion for farming and the capability to farm, but may not have a National Senior Certificate or the money to gain a place to study agriculture at a university or college.
Our admissions requirements are:
- Access to land on which to farm
- Minimum schooling – Grade 9
- The ability to speak, read and write English
- Functional numeracy
- The ability to do physical farm work
- A sincere commitment to farming
- A successful interview with academy selection panel
- Full-time course attendance.
2. How to apply
The application form can be filled on online, or downloaded, by clicking on the ‘Enroll Now’ button at the bottom of this page. The form can also be obtained from Buhle by fax, post or email, through our Contact Us page. Please note that:
- The applicant must fill in all relevant sections of the application form.
- A non-refundable application fee of R120.00 per application must be paid into the academy’s bank account.
- The application form, accompanied by a copy of your ID and proof of payment, must be faxed, posted or emailed to the academy.
- Applications should reach the academy at least two weeks before the start of the course.
- The academy will acknowledge receipt of your application, and a date will be set for your interview with the selection panel.
3. Student selection process
The Buhle selection panel assesses all applications against the admission requirements, and will invite candidates to an interview with the panel. At this interview, we will evaluate your motivation and ask for any other necessary information. The panel then makes a decision on which students to accept. Candidates are notified of the outcome immediately.
It is mandatory for traineesto bring along the following documents:
- Your Curriculum Vitae
- A copy of your ID
- A copy of your highest qualification
4. Registration and fees
After the selection process is complete, successful applicants pay a course fee and are then registered for a specific course.
The training courses are highly subsidised, so no deferred payment is accepted and no bursaries are available unless directly negotiated with an independent third party.
Information about course fees can be obtained fromapplications@buhle.org.za,cellphone number 087 803 0563 or WhatsApp 063 287 2732.
How to take an Online Agriculture Course
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How to take an Online Agriculture Course – Beginner Farmers and Courses
