Agriculture is the second largest employer of people worldwide with a total of one third of the world’s population working in this economic sector. Despite these numbers, agriculture only contributes in the region of 5% to the combined gross domestic products of the countries of the world. These figures show that more efficiency is needed to move agriculture forward. The good news is that South Africa is self-sufficient in almost all major agricultural products and also exports food to other countries. Agriculture and food production remain vitally important to the economic development of the country.

South Africa’s dual agricultural economy, including well-developed commercial farming and more subsistence-based production, poses specific training needs for extension and development officers in particular. In addition, the country is involved in an intricate land reform process that also requires special skills of interested parties to understand the governance and implementation of land reform in South Africa.

To meet the needs of skills development in the agricultural and food sciences disciplines, CE at UP offers certificate courses in agriculture and food management, as well as courses in land reform and extension and development.