Schools Programme
The Schools Programme is a result of a partnership between the Maize Trust and the AgriSETA, which all fund the programme in different ways and in the different areas. Several people have been contracted to do the presentations at identified schools in all nine provinces of South Africa. There are also DVD’s available that are shown to learners throughout all the provinces of South Africa each term. These DVDs portray messages such as:
Food, Fiber and Life
A DVD shown to Grade 9 learners that focusses on creating awareness among learners of the type of products that are derived from agriculture
Dig in – Introduction to Farming
Shown in the second term and teaches learners about the agricultural production areas in South Africa and what is grown where. It also gives a broad overview of soil, the factors influencing it and soil conservation methods.
Plant yourself in the future
Presented in the third term and has a strong focus on career choices and gives an overview of the types of careers that the agricultural sector has to offer
This initiative recognises the potential of youth to make a significant impact on the agricultural sector IF they can be alerted to the urgent need for them to participate as future farmers or in other careers in agriculture. Africa is a young continent with 65% population below 35 years of age and 10 to 12 million young people estimated to enter the workforce every year.
During the 2025 year for the first term there was a total of 191 visits made by trained Grain SA Farmer Development facilitators this will continue through the 2nd, 3rd and 4th terms of this year.
Feedback from Teachers:
Miss Hadebe on the value of the visit: Yes the children learnt a lot about agriculture. It also helped them to understand the importance of agriculture. They learnt about winter crops and summer crops and they also learnt about products of crops which is very helpful to know them
Recommendations: Miss Hadebe recommended that the school should have equipment and resources to practise agriculture. They need to start a school garden. – Jangeni Primary School
Miss Khuzwayo on the value of the visit: Yes. It was of much value to the learners and even to the teachers.
Recommendation: I fully recommend more visits because the programme is fruitful. We gained more knowledge based on agriculture and we need to be more informed about a lot since the unemployment is so high in SA, so agriculture is the future. – Mbongeleni Primary School
Feedback from Learners:
Sphumelele Ndlela:
Yes. We learnt about agriculture and that it is working with soil and animals to produce food. We get food from the gardens or field. We grow vegetables in the gardens and crops in the field. In olden days people used cattle and donkies for ploughing. Agriculture is important because it provides food in the form of plants and animals.
– Jangeni Primary
Lunga Dlamini:
In the olden days people used cows to grow their crops, now they grow crops by tractors. And we learnt about where cereals come from, they come from wheat and oil come from sunflower. Fibre is used to make clothes we wear and it comes from animals. Crocodile skin is used to make bags and shoes.
– Jangeni Primary School
Amanda Shange:
Yes, Today I learnt about agriculture as a source of food and fibre. Cattles and donkies helped people in ploughing in old days. Maize is the most important plant grown in South Africa. We need water and land to implement agriculture. Agriculture brought civilization. Now people use tractors for ploughing. Government provides food security through agriculture. Agriculture also provide employment. Nomadic people are people who move from one place to another. We really need agriculture because we can’t live without food and water.
– Mbongeleni Primary School
Buthelezi Aphelele:
Yes, today I learnt about nomadic people who moved from place to place. I didn’t know that agriculture is important but now I know that agriculture brought civilization. Agriculture is important because it fights against starvation. Cattle and donkies were used for ploughing in olden days. It also provides employment. Agriculture is practised in rural areas. Maize is mostly grown in South Africa. Sunflower produce oil. We need water to implement agriculture. Nowadays tractors are used for ploughing.
– Mbongeleni Primary School