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South Africa: Stellenbosch University’s Standard Bank Centre Receives R5.13 million Boost |
| Source: |
SA - the Good News |
| Source Date: |
Monday, March 25, 2013 |
| Focus: |
ICT for MDGs
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| Country: |
South Africa |
| Created: |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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The Centre is the first of its kind in Africa and is an initiative of SU’s HOPE Project, a campus-wide initiative through which the University uses its knowledge and research to address societal challenges in Africa. It was launched in 2010 in response to the high failure rate of land reform projects and emerging commercial farmers and is designed to address current challenges in the agricultural sector. The Centre aims to link emerging farmers with the commercial agri-food value chain and promote economic development and growth.
“It is important that we maintain the momentum of the Centre’s success since its launch three years ago. The Centre has driven crucial engagement and thought leadership in the South African agricultural sector. It has established itself as a credible and independent source of insight, both for government and the agri-value chain as a whole,” says Willie du Plessis, Standard Bank Head of Agribusiness.
The Centre has initiated a number of ‘imbizos’ or leadership laboratories in which industry leaders contribute information and ideas to address sector concerns such as transformation, land reform, employment and unity. Input from the imbizos was incorporated into the National Planning Commission’s chapter on agriculture.
“We were fortunate to have Professor Mohammad Karaan, Dean of the Faculty of Agrisciences at Stellenbosch University and a commissioner on the National Planning Commission, contribute as an imbizo facilitator,” says Professor Johan van Rooyen, Director of the Centre. “He was able to interpret the outcomes of the imbizos for the National Planning Commission.”
Prof van Rooyen says because the Centre is recognised as independent and neutral within the agri-industry, opinions and ideas are freely expressed. The imbizos therefore allow some of the best minds in the industry to collectively deliver constructive outcomes for agriculture and the broader economy.
“The Centre also played a pivotal role in establishing the Agri Sector Unity Forum (ASUF) last year. This body aims to drive a unified approach to the sector’s challenges, which will be the fastest way to resolve industry issues as they arise,” he says. The Centre will continue to host imbizos throughout the next three years, extending discussions to issues such as the future of agriculture, training and skills development, water governance and renewable energy, the continued focus on productivity and competitiveness, and reinvestment to grow the sector.
“Future imbizos need to continue contributing new information to hotly debated topics in agriculture,” Professor van Rooyen says. “The Centre will commission research into these topics, providing fresh views and triggering new thinking. A number of case studies have already been published.” Apart from industry engagements, the Centre will also be refining its approach toward mentoring new and small-holder farmers and providing leadership and business management skills.
“Standard Bank’s Enterprise Development division and PriceWaterhouseCoopers have developed a short course for the Centre through which Business Development Support (BDS) providers in the agricultural sector can gain accreditation,” Mr Du Plessis says.
“The accreditation of BDS providers will ensure that small holder and medium scale commercial black farmers get structured support to access markets, finance and other players in the value chain.”
The Centre has also attracted international attention, engaging with Britain’s Royal Agricultural College and the African Fellowship Trust on the African Leadership Programme, an exchange programme in which South African agribusinesses offer internships to students from the rest of Africa who are engaged in various agribusinesses, for the purposes of leadership development and knowledge and skills transfer.
“We are pleased with the contribution the Centre is making to the longterm sustainability and productivity of the agricultural sector in South Africa,” Mr du Plessis says. “Our objective for the next three years is to broaden and deepen its impact.”
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South Africa: Stellenbosch University’s Standard Bank Centre Receives R5.13 million Boost Stellenbosch University’s Standard Bank Centre for Agribusiness Leadership and Mentorship Development will receive a further boost in the form of increased investment from its key strategic partner Standard Bank it was announced on Thursday 14 March Standard Bank will increase its investment in the Centre from R3.45 million over the past three years to R5.13 million over the next three years
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