Industry player sings praises about TARDI graduates
AGRICULTURE industry player Afrivet has sang praises to Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (TARDI) for the quality of graduates it produces and the impact they have made in the demanding sector since the two forged working relations in 2017.
TARDI began offering its three-year flagship diploma in Animal Health in 2015 and capped its first group of animal technicians in 2017 whom some of did their experiential training with Afrivet.
Today [May 20] the institute released another group of 51 animal technicians on a virtual graduation with limited physical attendance at TARDI’s dining hall.
Among the attendees were representatives from AgriSETA, Afrivet, Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) and the South African Veterinary Council.
Afrivet Director Vuyokazi Makapela said graduates from TARDI impressed across all respects relevant to their qualification on the field.
According to Makapela, Afrivet currently has more than 25 TARDI graduates on its learnership programme where they are receiving marketing, sales, entrepreneurship and extension services training.
“It’s inspiring to see what TARDI is doing as far as rural development is concerned. Their graduates are making a huge difference in developing subsistence farmers who are largely found in the rural areas to commercial livestock producers. They are playing a big role in improving the quality of livestock in the country as some of them are now working for established institutions,” said Makapela.
The first group of eight graduates who underwent Afrivet’s training also received their certificates in marketing, sales, entrepreneurship and extension services which are AgriSETA accredited.
Makapela said the graduates from the school have been the backbone of Afrivet’s Emthonjeni dip tank management project that is looking after 66 dip tanks in the Engcobo area.
“They can do almost everything under minimal supervision. They are able to identify diseases, recommend and even administer stock remedies,” she said.
The that received their qualifications today obtained a 100% pass rate in the eyes of the deadly coronavirus.
Principal at the school, Nandipha Ndudane attributed the success to co-operation among the TARDI community which includes the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Local Government and industry players like AgriSETA, Afrivet, Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) and South African Veterinary Council among others.
MEC for DRDAR, Nonkqubela Pieters added that partnerships between the private and public sector were imperative in the sustainability of the agricultural sector in the country.
“The agricultural sector is one of the anchors of our economy. The industry is the foundation of our livelihoods as it feeds and create employment for us all, which is why it is important for us to work together. These graduates are the human resource to carry the industry to greater heights –let’s make use of their skills even for the betterment of our subsistence farmers,” she said.
In this year’s graduation, Athandiwe Mnyanda was announced the best performing student.