Our innovative GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 [SAQA] learnership streamlines farming operations. This is by developing competent employees who can be entrusted to work autonomously without constant supervision. In turn, this frees owners and managers to focus on strategic decisions and other critical areas of the business.
Operating a farm is a complex undertaking. It is impossible to successfully manage the many tasks that need constant attention when “farm hands” are inadequately skilled. In such instances, the delegation of important tasks to team members can be a source of stress.
Meanwhile, farming is also becoming more sophisticated and, therefore, increasingly reliant on skilled employees. Farm mechanisation has enhanced efficiency and enabled large-scale activities, while reducing the need for manual labour. However, skilled employees are required to operate these machines efficiently. Effiiency is critical in an industry that has experienced continuous decline in agricultural profit margins. For example, mechanisation accounts for about 50% of all sugarcane production. This is even the case when cane is cut manually. Therefore, the smallest savings in production costs due to improved efficiencies can result in large increases in profit.
Just like so many other industries, local farming is also increasingly adopting fourth-industrial revolution technologies. For example, artificial intelligence is already being used to accurately monitor crop conditions; soil quality; weather patterns; and pest infestations. This is in addition to precisely observing temperature, humidity and lightning. The rich information collected by these technologies enables farm owners to make better decisions. Furthermore, AI is being deployed in animal husbandry to provide alerts and suggestions on feeding, milking and health. In food processing, the technology enhances efficiency, safety and quality. As farms increasingly adopt sophisticated technologies, existing skills gaps are widening.
GETC: AET/ABET bridges skills gaps
Our GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 learnership bridges these skills gaps. At the most basic level, it teaches basic literacy and communication, as well numeracy skills. These “workplace literacy” skills are required to perform entry level and general work on farms in an optimal manner. The wine industry, for example, has been battling with a shortage of these skills for many years. For the industry to sustain its success as a formidable exporter, it will have to improve the quality of South African wine. This will enable local wine producers to compete in markets for higher-priced wines which have higher barriers to entry. Skills development is one of the ways to improve the local wine industry’s competitiveness in world markets. However, existing employees cannot be upskilled if basic building blocks are not in place.
These fundamental skills are the basis upon which other scarce important agricultural proficiencies are developed.
As https://www.agriseta.co.za/ notes, these skills gaps are mainly “soft” in nature. In addition to communication, they include conflict management and production coordination. Thus, the SETA has prioritised the development of these skills when allocating grants [Employers – Services SETA Website].
Meanwhile, The Agri Handbook 6th Edition (Hardcopy) – Agribook Digital identifies other “soft” skills that are in short supply in the country. They include social and inter-personal, as well as negotiation and facilitation. These are underpinned by good basic literacy, language and communication skills which are taught by GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1. It also highlights the growing demand for decision-making; problem-solving; and critical thinking. These have their roots in basic numeracy, a skill which is taught by GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 mathematical literacy.
Notably, the decline in the number of matriculants who took technical maths has had a profound negative impact on agriculture. For example, fewer matriculants are enrolling for agricultural engineering and sciences.
Invest in GETC: AET/ABET
Farm owners who invest in our GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 learnership equip their workforce with the skills that they need to succeed.
Owners and managers can trust employees who hold a GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 qualification to handle responsibilities without requiring constant oversight. By demonstrating reliability and organisation, employees earn the trust of their employers. This trust is the cornerstone of productive and efficient farms. Employers need reassurance that their employees will complete their respective tasks according to standard and within allotted timeframes.
However, trust is reciprocal. It is the role of employers to provide opportunities for employees to gain skills that they need to perform well. Furthermore, they also need to be given autonomy to succeed. Over time, trust is developed by creating realistic expectations; regularly monitoring performance; and ensuring efficient communication.
This process is initiated from the first day that existing and new employees start the GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 learnership. The fundamental, core and elective subjects learnt in a classroom environment are immediately applied in the workplace. This while working alongside a mentor. As employees become more adept at entry level and general work, they can be given more autonomy. Equipped with basic education skills, they can start climbing the National Qualifications Framework – SAQA.
In this way, farm owners can start building a robust pipeline of skills. This includes planning for those vacancies that take more than six months to fill. These are also simply referred to as “hard-to-fill vacancies”. Among others, they include millers and tractor maintenance and mechanic technicians. Other artisanal skills that are in high demand on farms include fitting and turning; boiler making; and plumbing and electrical. This is in addition to refrigeration mechanics and agriculture infrastructure maintenance.
GETC: AET/ABET develops important traits
Our GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 develops three important traits that help to nurture trust between employees and employers on farms.
Among others, this includes effective communication. Our learnership teaches more than just reading; writing; verbal and non-verbal communication; and active listening skills. GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 training also builds the confidence that employees need to ask for clarification if they are uncertain. This is by also focusing on developing a sense of self-esteem and -awareness. These desirable traits are developed by studying GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 subjects such as life orientation [SAQA].
Confident in there oral and writing skills, employees will also be willing to communicate proactively. Team members who do so are trustworthy because they demonstrate responsibility and dependability. By informing managers and supervisors of potential issues in a timely manner, they can be resolved quickly before they escalate.
Employees who communicate well in working environments that facilitate meaningful engagement, can be trusted to step up. In turn, this makes working environments more harmonious and stress-free. Of course, this process is cyclical. Enterprising farm owners and managers understand the importance of implementing these systems; assigning responsibilities; and providing timely feedback.
These are also vital components of any successful on-the-job training programme. From day 1, employees familiarise themselves with systems used to delegate and track tasks effectively. These usually contain details of assigned duties and their due dates, as well as progress statuses. They will refer to them regularly to clarify and better understand their responsibilities and deadlines throughout the learnership. In this way, employees start working more autonomously and eventually without the need for constant supervision.
GETC: AET/ABET develops organisational skills
Our GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 learnership also develops planning and organisational skills.
Time management [SAQA] and effective participation in the workplace [SAQA] are two important themes of our learnership. Again, employees are given ample opportunity to also practice these while completing the workplace training component of our learnership. This includes the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritise their time to complete tasks by deadline. Farm employees need to be able to rank their tasks and manage their schedules to meet deadlines on their own. Organised employees have a clear plan for the day, week and beyond. This provides farm owners and managers with the confidence that delegated tasks will be completed according to expectation.
It is understandable why so many of our agricultural clients place so much emphasis on time management and organisational skills. Most agricultural projects are complex and large-scale. Therefore, a variety of tasks and activities need to be completed on a daily basis. These can include planning, harvesting, pest control and irrigation. Completion of these duties within the required timeframes are critical to maximise yields to increase profits.
Employees who have completed our GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 learnership can be assigned responsibilities knowing that they will be done as asked. However, having trustworthy employees does not only ensure that jobs are completed correctly by deadline. Empowering teams with autonomy and responsibility fosters more vibrant and motivated work environments. Generally, people take pride in being entrusted with more responsibility and will, therefore, strive to do their best. If valued and given the chance to constantly demonstrate their worth, they are also more likely to stay. This enables strong and experienced teams to be developed over time.
GETC: AET/ABET – further learning foundation
A GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 qualification is a further learning foundation. At the first rung of the NQF, your employees have been primed to acquire more skills. As is the case in most industries, farm workers need to be able to quickly learn and adapt to new systems, methods and technologies. In this way, they can handle new challenges and responsibilities, further earning the trust of their employers.
Most employers in the agricultural industry have invested significantly into skills development. The focus is on upskilling locally sourced employees with technical skills. Notably, upskilling usually happens at entry-level occupations. Yet, despite this investment, employers are still struggling to fill vacancies. This while traditional unskilled and semi-skilled positions are being made redundant. During the fourth quarter of 2020, about 810 000 people were employed in the agricultural sector. In the first quarter of 2021 this shrunk to 792 000.
An example of a scarce skill is sheep shearing. Because this skill is only at a NQF level 3, it is not recognised as a critical proficiency. Yet, it can take up to three to five years to be considered a competent shearer. At present, many farmers provide their own SAQA-accredited training in the field. Other vacancies that the wool industry is struggling to fill include wool handling and predation management.
GETC: AET/ABET graduates are experienced
Having worked in the field, GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 training graduates are experienced. In some occupations, experience is more important than a qualification. A case in point are those middle and upper production management positions on citrus farms and in packhouses. Many of these positions can remain vacant for extended periods.
There is also nothing stopping a GETC: AET/ABET NQF 1 graduate from pursuing academic learning. In this way, he or she can become an industrial engineer, for example. This is a skill that is in very high demand considering the process-orientated natures of modern citrus farms and packhouses.
Learn more about Triple E Training and how we are bridging skills gaps in the agricultural sector. www.eee.co.za
