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Agriculture plays a key role in both economic
growth and human development, yet the sector faces major challenges, which
could undermine progress and stability in South Africa and elsewhere on the
continent. These include the slow pace and high failure rate of land reform
projects, as well as a range of difficulties faced by emerging farmers entering
mainstream commercial agriculture.
The Standard Bank Centre for Agribusiness
Leadership and Mentorship Development, which was established in the Faculty of
AgriSciences in April 2010, will help address some of these problems by
training managers and mentors who in turn can advise emerging farmers on
successful commercial farming, and developing best-practice case studies for
agribusiness strategy and models to support agricultural transformation.
The Centre, headed by Prof Johan van Rooyen,
has a threefold approach to make a
knowledge-driven contribution to development and transformation. The
Centre's academic programme focuses on
postgraduate education and research in the Department of Agricultural
Economics, which offers multi-disciplinary postgraduate programmes, including
PhD and master's degrees, as well as certificate and diploma courses. These
educational opportunities are aimed at graduate students and future executives
and leaders in the agribusiness development sector.
 At the heart of South Africa's agricultural success is mentoring development and training, says Prof van Rooyen. Middle management training for agri-mentors and community leaders thus form the backbone of the Centre's outreach activities. The mentorship programme provides a learning-by-doing experience through various accredited short courses. Professional services firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is one of the strategic partners involved in the courses.
The Centre's third focus area, through its Agri-Leadership Development Laboratory, is leadership development in the agricultural sector by offering imbizo’s. Agribusiness leaders, farmers, opinion leaders and government representatives are invited to these imbizo’s on a regular basis where they can share thoughts within a laboratory environment on current issues in agriculture.
In 2011 the Centre formed a partnership with the United Kingdom-based African Fellowship Trust (AFT) and the Royal Agricultural College (RAC) to strengthen the AFT's programme in Africa leadership. The Centre plays a key role through the orientation of fellows and managing their placements at agricultural enterprises in southern Africa.
Prof Johan van Rooyen, Director of the Centre, explains: "Knowledge is crucial. The transformation of agriculture in South Africa has been difficult so far, partly because the focus on agribusiness was lacking and there was limited business-oriented know-how. We want to be the agribusiness sector’s knowledge partner by providing academic and research programmes, advisory support and mentorship development training."
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