KZN MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa Urges Young People to Consider Agriculture as Their Chosen Profession

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has called on post-matriculation students to seriously consider agriculture as a viable and rewarding career path.

Addressing hundreds of students at the Mtubatuba Civic Centre during the local municipality’s Mayoral Excellence Awards ceremony, the MEC highlighted the urgent need to bring fresh energy into the sector.

“We have an ageing group of farmers, hence, we need young farmers to infuse the sector with their enthusiasm and energy,” she said.

She dismissed the outdated perception that farming is purely manual labour, emphasising that agriculture today is driven by innovation and advanced technology. The sector now uses modern diagnostic methods to detect plant and animal diseases, while drones are deployed to spray crops and monitor field conditions.

“The sector has grown so much that it uses modern technology such as diagnostic methods to detect diseases and drones to spray chemicals on plants. That’s something that the youth of today can relate to,” she explained.

The MEC further assured students that the provincial government is investing in youth development through bursaries, learnerships and internship programmes designed to provide practical exposure. These initiatives offer hands-on experience in livestock production, crop production and agricultural business management, helping young people gain both technical knowledge and industry insight.

Students wishing to formalise their training can enrol for Agricultural Diplomas offered at institutions such as the Owen Sithole College of Agriculture and Cedara College of Agriculture, which continue to play a critical role in developing skilled agricultural professionals in the province.

Encouraging young people to go beyond entry-level participation, kaMadlopha-Mthethwa urged them to specialise and become experts capable of addressing the sector’s pressing challenges.

“We encourage you to consider specialising in this field to become experts and tackle challenges we currently face. Perhaps, you may become leading experts in addressing pressing issues like climate change, fall army worm and developing solutions for animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease,” she said.

She noted that climate change continues to impact rainfall patterns, crop yields and livestock productivity, while pests such as fall armyworm and diseases like foot-and-mouth disease threaten food security and economic stability.

The MEC concluded by reiterating that agriculture offers far more than traditional farming. It is a dynamic, technology-driven profession that plays a vital role in food security, rural development and economic growth. She encouraged young people to seize the opportunities available and position themselves at the forefront of a sector that is critical to the country’s future.