Into the fast lane with Hortgro’s Skills Accelerator Project

Being successful is not only about who you know, but also how much you know.

The name Hortgro Skills Accelerator Project (HSAP) was coined when Hortgro approached the Jobs Fund to collaborate and assist previously disadvantaged farmers in acquiring farming business skills as quickly and efficiently as possible. Hortgro has been helping new and emerging farmers since the early years, at the technical, economic, and institutional levels, but it was time to formalise the programme.

Introducing the Jobs Fund into the equation. They met Hortgro on a one-to-one basis, financially. However, the Jobs Fund was intended to create jobs, which was good in the broader scheme of things. Reducing unemployment is a key driver of Hortgro’s operations. The Hortgro Skills Accelerator Project was formally established, bringing on board 30 qualifying farming enterprises.

HSAP is designed to enhance the agricultural sector’s capacity through three key components: capacity building/business coaching, intern and graduate placements, and business development support. This implementation plan details the steps, timelines, responsibilities, and resources required for each component to achieve the project’s objectives.

HSAP addresses the limited, critical, technical, and financial business support needs of previously disadvantaged deciduous fruit producers through a tailored capacity-building approach. These constraints are addressed through comprehensive business coaching programmes that meet businesses’ needs. Secondly, it provides comprehensive support for graduates and the internship placement programme by providing stipends to remove barriers to placements (primarily due to lack of accommodation, transport, or stipends). For the placement programme, support includes providing resources specific to each placement.

The outcomes included improved, sustainable businesses; development of each agri-preneur’s business capabilities; upskilled graduates with practical workplace experience; and increased employability. The business development support entails assisting new entrants and emerging deciduous fruit farmers with resources to enter the industry or expand their operations. This includes completing business and whole-farm plans and facilitating access to finance through available funding institutions.

HSAP provides farms with a holistic approach to identifying their real needs. And how to find solutions for it. It might not be a spanking-new tractor, but rather financial training, with the special online HSAP programme called Finance for Non-Financial Managers, helping the production manager understand what the financial manager means. Bringing the cost of production and selling for a profit in line. The more skills, the bigger the success.

It has been important for HSAP to meet the Jobs Fund deliverables, but never at the expense of the beneficiaries, the farmers. The primary purpose was to help these farms develop a sustainable business plan for the future. Which, in turn, helps to create more jobs. Which, in any case, is the key deliverable of the Jobs Fund.

To strengthen the project, HSAP assembled a team of industry experts to collaborate with emerging farmers, sharing practical knowledge and experience to build skills and support a holistic approach to farming as a business.

HSAP, in collaboration with the Jobs Fund, is a 24-month project that is coming to a successful end in March of this year. Great, that was wonderful for the participating 30 farms, but the deciduous fruit industry has many more farms. What now?

The good news is that, as part of the Jobs Fund partnership requirements, a project must demonstrate sustainability beyond the Jobs Fund contractual obligations, and Hortgro has made provisions for the programme’s continuation. Given the measurable success of this first phase over the past two years, HSAP has secured funding from various sources to sustain momentum going forward; however, to meet the holistic requirements, additional resources are needed.

The HSAP show will proceed. If you want to get involved, either as an economic development contributor or as a new farmer seeking new skills, contact our Hortgro Economic Development Desk.