Success in life is determined by a combination of various factors such as knowledge, hard work and attitude. Success in agriculture is determined by even more factors and the interaction between these factors is often unpredictable and very complicated. At the Grootfontein College of Agriculture we focus on equipping prospective agriculturalists with the knowledge and skills to comprehend, understand and manage these factors.

Through quality education and training the Grootfontein College of Agriculture succeeds in transferring the necessary knowledge and skills to its students, both at Higher Education level and Further Education and Training level. The positive impact of the Grootfontein qualification on the small stock sector in South Africa is recognised by all the relevant stakeholders in the industry. Together with the research done by the Research division of the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Grootfontein can rightfully claim its status as “The Small Stock Centre of Excellence.”

In this Training Report the objectives of the training program, the teaching methodology and the instructional program are explained. Feedback is also given about recruitment, admission and results. Statistics about various aspects of the College are also presented in the report and is a testimony of its achievements. The report will not be complete without mentioning student matters and sport. We are proud of our facilities and a section about the infrastructure of the College is included in the report.

This report gives a general review about the Grootfontein College of Agriculture and its achievements during 2006.

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CHAPTER 1

BACKGROUND

The Grootfontein College of Agriculture is the training division of the larger Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI) of the Department of Agriculture (DoA). The objective of the Grootfontein College of Agriculture is to provide vocational agricultural training in order to prepare students for a career in farming and related occupational fields, with special emphasis on small stock production management in the extensive small stock farming areas.

In the process, the College promotes a vigorous and wealth generating small stock production sector. This is in line with the vision of the Department of Agriculture, namely: “A united and prosperous agricultural sector.”

The College aims to:

· Provide formal vocational training in agriculture in the Higher Education band of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), in order to produce suitably qualified and equipped manpower, in accordance with requirements for farming and agricultural development work in the technical occupational divisions, with special emphasis on the extensive small stock farming areas;

· Provide appropriate training programs to satisfy the farming sector, for which training is intended, educationists and development agencies;

· Provide formal and informal training in the Further Education and Training band of the NQF to meet the training needs of the farming communities, Land Reform beneficiaries and development agencies;

· Identify the need for training at grass-roots level and to provide custom-designed extra-curricular courses for special interest groups;

· Provide institutional, infrastructural, financial and administrative support services to effectively support teaching and learning.

The primary beneficiaries of the GADI training program are land users in the extensive sheep and goat producing regions of South Africa. They are represented by the Provincial Departments of Agriculture, commodity organizations, agribusiness, organized agricul-ture, farming communities, farmers and Land Reform beneficiaries

The client needs are determined by communication with provincial departments of agri-culture, commodity organizations, agribusiness and farming communities. These needs are then aligned with the key programs of the Department of Agriculture.

Some changes in the staff component of the College occurred during 2006. A Deputy Director: Training (Principal) was appointed in June and three lecturers in the Crops & Pastures department were appointed in December. Certain vacant lecture posts remained on the staffing component of the College and will be corrected during 2008. Specialists in certain fields where vacancies were experienced, were contracted to present some of the modules to ensure that the students received the best possible training.

The loyalty and commitment of the current lecturing and academic staff ensure that a high quality of training was maintained. All the academic staff received training as assessors to be registered by AgriSETA. Three lecturers were trained as moderators. A strategic planning session was conducted to set the goals for the short and medium term. Three young scientists were employed for a one year term as interns by the College and had the opportunity to broaden their skills and knowledge base in small stock production and lecturing.

Another positive development is the agreement between Grootfontein and GWK (Griekwaland-Wes Koöperasie) in the field of meat processing and related fields of study. In the process, the students were exposed to the latest technology and developments in the mutton industry and had the advantage of learning from experts in the field.

The College staff during a strategic planning section in July

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CHAPTER 2

HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM

2.1 Higher Certificate in Agriculture

2.1.1 Aim

The general aim of this study program is to provide training for market-orientated producers in the practical application of functional knowledge, production techniques and agricultural management principles and practices.

2.1.2 Objectives of the Higher Certificate in Agriculture

(a) To provide training in the following fields of study:

· The principles and practices of small stock management, wool and mohair production, as well as mutton production

· Principles of large stock production

· Agricultural management

· Veld and grazing management

· Principles of crop and fodder production

· Agricultural engineering - principles and techniques

· Agricultural law and personnel management

· Life skills

(b) To provide the student with functional knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and its application in the production process.

(d) To enable the student to undertake development and maintenance work at farm level.

(e) To provide the students with basic knowledge and practical skills needed for the development of their managerial abilities as market orientated producers.

(f) To establish a coordinated interdisciplinary approach.

(g) To impart knowledge and skills and to develop attitudes necessary for under-standing and appreciating the agricultural production process in relation to ecosystems and their constituent interacting components, in order to achieve optimum resource utilization for sustained maximum agricultural production.

Students receiving training in the Wool Practical module

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2.1.3 Teaching methodology

The subjects are presented as modules where for a certain period of time, depending on the number of credits, only one module is presented and examined. The Higher Certificate in Agriculture as a whole consists of approximately 60% theoretical training and 40% practical training. An 80% class attendance is required. Modules are assessed by means of written or oral examinations, tests, assignments and tutorials, or on a basis of continuous assessment. Lectures are presented in both English and Afrikaans.

Two study tours were undertaken, one to the wool and mohair industry in Port Elizabeth and one to the ostrich industry in the Southern Cape. The Merino championship, shearing competition and wool handling competition were also attended at the Bloemfontein Agricultural Show. Various short courses were presented by breeders’ societies to ensure the first hand transfer of knowledge of the various breeds to the students.

The instructional program for the Higher Certificate in Agriculture is given in Table 1.

Table 1: The Instructional Program for the Higher Certificate in Agriculture

Year of Study	Semester	Module			Credits
		Code	Title	Content
1	1	KTW111	Small Stock Production IA	Wool theory	5
		TEL111	Animal Breeding I	Breeding	5
		VOE111	Animal Nutrition I	Nutrition	5
		DGE111	Animal Health IA	Anatomy & physiology	5
		EQS110	Equine Studies I	Horse care & handling	4
		LBS111	Agricultural Management IA	Agricultural management	4
		PLK111	Botany I	Botany	4
		GRK111	Soil Science I	Soil science	5
		ENA111	Agricultural Engineering IA	Building science	5
		ENB111	Agricultural Engineering IB	Mechanics	5
		ENC111	Agricultural Engineering IC	Arc welding	5
		END110	Agricultural Engineering ID	Electricity	2
		ENE110	Agricultural Engineering IE	Fences	2
		ENF110	Agricultural Engineering IF	Windmills	2
		RKG110	Computer Use IA	Computers & programs	3
					61
1	2	KTA121	Small Stock Production IB	Angora goats	4
		KTB121	Small Stock Production IC	Sheep management	5
		DGE121	Animal Health IB	Animal health	4
		LBS121	Agricultural Management IB	Agricultural management	4
		VBS121	Veld Management I	Pasture science	4
		PBS121	Personnel Management I	Personnel management	4
		GWP121	Crop Production I	Crop production	3
		GWB121	Crop Protection I	Pest & plague control	4
		ENG121	Agricultural Engineering IG	Civil engineering	3
		ENH121	Agricultural Engineering IH	Gas welding	5
		KPW120	Small Stock Practical IA	Wool classing and sheering	10
		KPS120	Small Stock Practical IB	Sheep practical	6
		RKG120	Computer Use IB	Computers & programs	3
					59
					120

Year of Study	Semester	Module			Credits
		Code	Title	Content
2	3	KTW231	Small Stock Production IIA	Wool theory	4
		KTV231	Small Stock Production IIB	Mutton sheep	4
		DGE231	Animal Health II	Diseases & control	6
		GVV231	Large Stock Production IA	Beef cattle	5
		LBS231	Agricultural Management IIA	Agricultural management	5
		LBR231	Agricultural Law Studies I	Agricultural laws	4
		VBS231	Veld Management IA	Pasture science	5
		KPA230	Small Stock Practical IC	Angora goats	5
		KPV 230	Small Stock Practical IE	SA Mutton Merino, Boergoat, Vermin control, Drakenberg cattle	7
		KPW230	Small Stock Practical IIA	Wool classing (registration)	8
		KPS270	Small Stock Practical IIB	Merino ewes	5
		GVO231	Ostrich Production I	Ostriches	2
		RKG230	Computer Use IC	Computers & programs	2
					62
2	4	TEL241	Animal Breeding II	Breeding	4
		VOE241	Animal Nutrition II	Nutrition	4
		KTA241	Small Stock Production IIC	Angora goats	6
		GVB241	Large Stock Production IB	Dairy cattle	3
		GVM241	Large Stock Production IC	Dairying	3
		GVP241	Pig Production I	Pigs	2
		LBS241	Agricultural Management IIB	Agricultural management	4
		VBS241	Veld Management IIB	Pasture science	5
		GWA241	Crop Production IIA	Cultivated pastures	5
		GWB241	Crop Production IIB	Irrigation	4
		KPB240	Small Stock Practical ID	Mohair classing	5
		KPV240	Small Stock Practical IF	Junior Dorper judging course, Dohne Merino course	6
		KPS240	Small Stock Practical IIB	Merino rams	5
		RKG240	Computer Use ID	Computers & programs	2
					58
					120

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2.2 Diploma in Agriculture

2.2.1 Aim

This instructional program aims to develop the student’s capacity for integrated decision making. The program is designed to:

a) Facilitate the integration of interdisciplinary teaching and management of production systems;

b) Allow for intensification of the theoretical knowledge base, technical skills and practical applications;

c) Provide for a degree of diversification through broadening of the subject matter base.

2.2.2 Objectives of the Diploma in Agriculture Program

a) To develop knowledge and proficiency in the necessary skills required for market related production in specific farming enterprises.

b) To enable students to apply innovative thinking skills, advanced technology and problem-solving abilities in the production system process.

c) To combine knowledge and skills from different subjects into a holistic approach to ensure sustainable agricultural production.

d) To teach knowledge and skills and to develop attitudes necessary for understanding and appreciating the needs and demands of an evolving agricultural environment and global challenges posed by open and competitive markets.

2.2.3 Teaching methodology

The subjects are presented as modules where, for a certain period of time, depending on the number of credits, only one module is presented and examined. The Diploma in Agriculture as a whole consists of approximately 40% theoretical training, 60% practical training, self-study and group work. An 80% class atten-dance is required. Modules are assessed by means of written or oral examinations, tests, assignments and tutorials, or on a basis of continuous assessment, project reports or seminars. This was the first year that the students who have started the modular training approach, completed their third year. They seemed to have managed it without any serious problems. Lectures are presented in both English and Afrikaans.

The Production units and Agricultural management courses produced seminars of a very high standard. A production unit is a small farm where the students farm with 50 breeding animals for the year. They plan, manage and perform all actions themselves. Two new production units were also started during this year, namely the ostrich unit and the Drakensberg cattle unit. Grootfontein is the only tertiary training institution where formal training is given in ostrich production.

Various academic and study tours were undertaken to amongst others the Agricultural Research Council Livestock Improvement Centre at Irene, Nampo Harvest Day, the Northern Cape and the Tsitsikamma.

For the third consecutive year, a Grootfontein Diploma student was crowned as the John Deere Agricultural College Student of the Year.

Two students from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University completed their experiential year at the College.

The students obtain skills in value adding by participating in

the meat processing module.

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The instructional program for the Diploma in Agriculture is given in Table 2.

Table 2: The Instructional Program for the Diploma in Agriculture

Year of Study	Semester	Module			Credits
		Code	Title	Content
3	5	VOE350	Animal Nutrition III	Feedlot project	3
		DPD370	Animal Production IIIA	Production units	12
		DPP350	Animal Production Practical IIIA	Large stock pregnancy testing, Small stock AI, Senior Boer goat course	12
		LBS370	Agricultural Management IIIA	Integrated farm planning	6
		LBV351	Agricultural Extension IA	Agricultural extension	6
		OMG351	Environmental Management IIIA	Environmental management	6
		RKG350	Computer Use IIA	Applied software	2
		TEL 370	Animal Breeding III	Applied breeding & stud management	5
		WBR351	Game Farming IA	Game farming	5
		VVW370	Meat Processing I	Meat processing	3
		SVW370	Dairy Processing I	Dairy processing	3
					63
3	6	DPD370	Animal Production IIIA	Production units	9
		DPP360	Animal Production Practical IIIB	Large stock AI, Senior Dorper judging course	8
		LBS370	Agricultural Management IIIA	Integrated farm planning	6
		LBS361	Agricultural Management IIIB	Entrepeneurship	4
		LBV361	Agricultural Extension IB	Agricultural extension	6
		OMG361	Environmental Management IIIB	Environmental management	6
		RKG360	Computer Use IIB	Applied software	2
		TEL370	Animal Breeding III	Applied breeding & stud management	5
		WBR361	Game Farming IB	Game farming	5
		VVW370	Meat Processing I	Meat processing	3
		SVW370	Dairy Processing I	Dairy processing	3
					57
					120

The ostrich production unit was started during 2006 and the first batch

of chickens was reared

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2.3 Recruitment

An extensive recruitment campaign in the small stock farming areas of the country was launched during 2006 for the 2007 academic year. About 80% of the learners that visited the career exhibitions were from the previously disadvantaged communities. The aim of the recruitment campaign was to expose learners to agriculture, more specifically to small stock production and related occupations. The recruitment campaign was extended to the rural communities of the Eastern Cape Province and good interest was shown towards the courses that Grootfontein offers. The biggest challenges faced again during 2006 were the negative image of agriculture as a career and the lack of available funds amongst the learners from the previously disadvantaged groups.

Thirty-three towns were visited and 132 schools were reached during this campaign, with 33 475 learners having the opportunity to find out more about the courses that Grootfontein offers.

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2.4 Admission

Students are admitted after qualifying on a modified Swedish system. The cut-off date for admission to the study program was 30 November 2005. A total of 69 students were admitted for the 2006 academic year. However, not all the admitted students registered as some of them withdrew at the last moment. The total number of students who registered from 2002 to 2006 is shown in Figure 1.

Number

Figure 1: Student numbers from 2002 to 2006

From this figure it is evident that the student numbers increased remarkably over the last five years.

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2.5 Results

The results of the modules presented during 2006 are shown in Table 3. The students are required to pass all the modules to qualify for the Higher Certificate or Diploma in Agriculture.

Table 3: Student academic statistics for 2006

Module	Enrolled	Passed	Pass Rate (%)	Module	Enrolled	Passed	Pass Rate (%)
KTW 111	52	36	69	KTB 121	56	47	84
TEL 111	52	45	87	DGE 121	56	50	89
VOE 111	62	50	81	LBS 121	60	56	93
DGE 111	52	46	88	VBS 121	54	52	96
EQS 110	54	50	93	PBS 121	55	42	76
LBS 111	51	45	88	GWP 121	55	50	91
PLK 111	57	45	79	GWB 121	54	50	93
GRK 111	57	42	74	ENG 121	76	62	82
ENA 111	53	51	96	ENH 120	65	57	88
ENB 111	53	53	100	KPW 120	50	48	96
ENC 111	55	49	89	KPS 120	50	46	92
END 111	52	39	75	RKG 120	50	49	98
ENE 111	50	38	76	TEL 241	42	40	95
ENF 111	52	52	100	VOE 241	46	42	91
RKG 110	55	55	100	KTA 241	45	41	91
KTW 231	46	44	96	GVB 241	46	43	93
KTV 231	45	44	98	GVM 241	45	45	100
DGE 231	46	38	83	GVP 241	43	42	98
GVV 231	46	44	96	LBS 241	44	40	91
GVO 231	44	43	98	VBS 241	43	41	95
LBS 231	48	39	81	GWA 241	45	41	91
LBR 231	44	40	91	GWB 241	44	43	98
VBS 231	45	27	60	KPB 240	41	40	98
KPA 230	44	44	100	KPS 240	42	41	98
KPV230	44	44	100	RKG 240	42	42	100
KPW 230	43	43	100	KPV 240	43	41	95
KPS 230	43	43	100	DPD 370	38	37	97
RKG 230	46	46	100	DPP 370	36	36	100
VOE 350	36	36	100	LBS 370	38	38	100
DPP350	38	38	100	LBS 361	38	38	100
LBV 351	38	38	100	LBV 361	38	38	100
OMG 351	36	36	100	OMG 361	36	36	100
RKG 350	38	38	100	RKG 360	38	38	100
KTA 121	54	44	81	SVW 370	38	38	100

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2.6 Statistics for 2006

A significant increase in the number of students was experienced from 2002 to 2006, mainly as a result of the active recruitment campaigns during that time. The student numbers, according to gender and population group from 2002 to 2006, are given in Table 4.

Table 4: Student numbers per gender and per population group for 2002 to 2006

Gender	Population group	Number per year
Gender	Population group	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Male	PDI students*	14	13	16	21	27
	White students	73	74	87	97	111
	Sub-total Male	87	87	103	118	138
Female	PDI students	3	8	6	7	1
	White students	5	10	13	16	13
	Sub-total Female	8	18	19	23	14
Total	PDI students	17	21	22	28	28
	White students	78	84	100	113	124
	Total	95	105	122	141	152

* PDI students: Students from previously disadvantaged groups

The number of previously disadvantaged students stabilised on the levels of 2005. The number of first year students per gender admitted from 2002 to 2005 is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Admission of first year students according to gender

from 2002 to 2006

A negative trend that can be noticed from Table 5 is that the total number of female students is steadily decreasing.

A summary of the total student numbers for 2006 is given in Table 5. The number is broken down into gender and population group.

Table 5: Total student numbers per year of study (2006)

Population Group	Year of study						Total
	I		II		III		Total
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Total
Black students	15	0	9	0	3	1	27	1	28
White students	39	2	44	4	28	7	111	13	124
Sub-total	54	2	53	4	31	8	138	14	152
Total	56		57		39		152		152

Seventy-five of the prospective students who applied for 2006 were admitted, but only 56 (75%) registered as students. Table 6 gives an indication of the number of students admitted per gender and population group, as well as the number that actually registered as students.

Table 6: Students admitted versus students registered (2006)

Gender	Population Group	Applications Admitted	New Students Registered
Male	White	50	39
	Black	12	9
	Coloured	8	6
	Sub-total	70	54
Female	White	3	2
	Black	1	0
	Coloured	1	0
	Sub-total	5	2
Total	White	53	41
	Black	13	9
	Coloured	9	6
	Total	75	56

Figure 3: First year students accepted and registered for 2006

Figure 3 reveals that 77% of the white and 67% of the coloured students that were admitted did register. Of the black students that were admitted, 75% registered.

The main source of students for the Grootfontein College of Agriculture remains the extensive small stock production areas of the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape Provinces (Figure 4). A higher percentage of students from the Free State enrolled during 2006.

Figure 4: Student intake for 2006

Table 7: Certificates and diplomas awarded and the academic performance of candidates in the respective study programs (2002 to 2006)

Study Program	Year	Candidates Examined	Pass Grades			Cert / Dip Awarded
Study Program	Year	Candidates Examined	Distinction	1^st grade	Pass	Cert / Dip Awarded
Higher Certificate in Agriculture	2002	25	2	6	17	25
	2003	35	4	8	17	29
	2004	36	1	8	22	31
	2005	60	5	5	38	48
	2006	57	0

C O N T E N T S

2.1.2 Objectives of the Higher Certificate in Agriculture

Enrolled

Enrolled

II

Year