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
4/13/2015
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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
APPROACH AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES
• Farm worker Occupational Qualification
Project.xls
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SURVEY DATES
Interview Dates with Commercial farmers
LIVESTOCK
COMMERCIAL SALES
VENUES
CEDERVILLE
SWARTBERG
SAAMLOOP NEW
AMALFI
UNDERBERG
DATES
08 FEBRUARY 2011
15 FEBRUARY 2011
22 FEBRUARY 2011
01 MARCH 2011
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PROJECT TOOLS USED…
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONNAIRE WAS USED
DURING THE SURVEY:
Farmer worker occupational qualification
questionare.doc
SURVEY FEEDBACK
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A total of 16 questionnaires were filled
during the visits. Inputs and suggestions
received from farmers were very good.
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These farmers are involved in different
production enterprises within East
Griqualand and Underberg area as listed
below.
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
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FARMING SKILLS CONSIDERED
ESSENTIAL
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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
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
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FARMING SKILLS-RECOMMENDED
The following skills were recommended by farmers:
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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
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FARMING SKILLS-RECOMMENDED
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Mechanised planting
Animal milking
Gardening
Animal handling (dipping, vaccination, external
and internal pest control, castrating, eartagging, branding)
Packaging of farm produce
Sheep shearing
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OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED BY
FARM WORKERS
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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
OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED BY
FARM WORKERS
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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
OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED BY
FARM WORKERS
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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
OTHER PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
CONSIDERED BY EMPLOYERS
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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
LEVELS OF DEMAND FOR
VARIOUS POSITIONS
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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)
INTANGIBLE” ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE
LOOKED FOR WHEN EMPLOYING A
FARM LABOURER
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Honesty,
Intelligence,
hard working
neat,
well mannered,
healthy,
respectful,
born in the area,
experience,
married or
permanent partner,
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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 level17
DISQUALIFIERS FROM BEING
EMPLOYED AS A FARM LABOURER
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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
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SALARIES PAID TO FARM EMPLOYEES
BY FARMERS PER MONTH
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Farm managers R10 000- R20 000 or
more
Supervisors R2 000- R5 000
Skilled labourers R 1300-2000
Unskilled labourers R1300-2000
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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
THE FOLLOWING CAN BE DONE BY
AGRISETA TO HELP ADDRESS ON-FARM
SKILLS SHORTAGE
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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.
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CURRENT WAYS OF RECRUITING
SKILLED FARM LABOURERS
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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
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MOST FARMERS THINK THAT RPL
WILL BENEFIT BOTH EMPLOYERS
AND WORKERS
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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
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
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CONCLUSION
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More inputs will be invited
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A “Farm Worker Occupational
Qualification” will be developed based
on these inputs
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An “RPL system” is being developed in
collaboration with local farmers
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A “Farm Worker Recruitment System” is
being developed
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WHERE ARE WE BASED?
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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
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Invitation!
Visit our offices at 96 Hope Street, Kokstad
(Renovated Masonic Building)
4/13/2015
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