Machinery supplier gives learners insight into agri technology

Today, the company is still invested in the sector, and especially also in the future of the sector through spending time and sharing knowledge with learners at schools.

Magda du Toit spoke to Phillip Oosthuizen, Rovic Leers’s area manager for the Western Cape, during Nampo Cape about the company’s school programme in the province.

“We invest a great deal of time and effort in sharing knowledge and experience with the farmers of the future,” Oosthuizen said.

He said they varied the programme and information according to the needs of the learners as well as the curriculum focus at the various schools. At present, they are involved with Boland Agricultural Highschool, Marlow Agricultural High School, Augsburg Agricultural Gymnasium, Oakdale Agricultural Highschool, as well as Elsenburg Agricultural College.

“We make our equipment available to demonstrate their capabilities to the learners. There are Grade 8 learners at some of these schools that have never been on a tractor or combine, and by just exposing them to the latest technology on the equipment, we are opening up an entire new world to many of them,” Oosthuizen said.

Rovic Leers also presents short courses on subjects such as sheep shearing, conservation agriculture, crop spraying, and precision agriculture to Grade 10 and 11 learners, focusing on theory and practice.

“The learners receive practical training, but also have to write tests afterwards so that we can determine what they understood.”

Oosthuizen said Rovic Leers also donated implements to the schools so that the learners could use these in the practical implementation of the theory they were being taught.

“Our sprayers are used in vineyards, and we teach learners how to calibrate the sprayers and what the effect of using different sprayers can be. By using the equipment, such as the sprayers, they can see what actually happens in the field, orchard or vineyard.

“Technology is expensive, but by exposing learners who will become farmers, agronomists and technical advisers in the future to the available technology, we believe we are nurturing enquiring minds,” Oosthuizen added.