Skills development and Training Skills development and Training requirements of the Aquaculture Sector requirements of the Aquaculture Sector

in the Western Cape:in the Western Cape:

- a need to incorporate SETA training - a need to incorporate SETA training

byDr. Lizeth Botes

from the

27 & 28 Nov 200727 & 28 Nov 2007

BackgroundBackground:: Importance of skills development, training and capacity Importance of skills development, training and capacity

building expressed from State President level down to building expressed from State President level down to

National, Provincial and Local Government level.National, Provincial and Local Government level.

Emphasised in a national Benchmarking Survey of the Emphasised in a national Benchmarking Survey of the

Aquaculture Industry, conducted by AISA in 2006.Aquaculture Industry, conducted by AISA in 2006.

Resulted in the Western Cape Aquaculture Skills audit Resulted in the Western Cape Aquaculture Skills audit

conducted by AISA in 2007.conducted by AISA in 2007.

To conduct a skills audit of the Western To conduct a skills audit of the Western Cape Aquaculture Sector:Cape Aquaculture Sector:

assess what skills development and training

are required for human resource

development within the industry and

government

Project Objective:Project Objective:

Project Objective (cont.):Project Objective (cont.):

2. assess whether the necessary training

service providers for the sector are

available

3. assess whether available training is

industry needs driven

4. assess whether there are any gaps that

needs to be filled with regard to training and

skills development.

Project Methodology:Project Methodology:

1.1. ProducersProducers (from both the freshwater and (from both the freshwater and

marine aquaculture sub-sectors), marine aquaculture sub-sectors),

secondary service providerssecondary service providers to the sector to the sector

(processors, feed manufacturers), (processors, feed manufacturers), training training

service providersservice providers as well as the relevant as well as the relevant

provincial government departmentsprovincial government departments

(DEADP, DEDT, DoA, CapeNature) were (DEADP, DEDT, DoA, CapeNature) were

interviewed. interviewed.

2.2. Geographic representation: interviews Geographic representation: interviews

conducted across the Western Cape conducted across the Western Cape

Province Province

(ie Knysna, Gansbaai, Hermanus, (ie Knysna, Gansbaai, Hermanus,

Kleinmond, Grabouw, Franschhoek, Kleinmond, Grabouw, Franschhoek,

Stellenbosch, Somerset-West, Cape Town Stellenbosch, Somerset-West, Cape Town

City Bowl, Montague Gardens, Saldanha City Bowl, Montague Gardens, Saldanha

Bay etc).Bay etc).

Project Methodology (cont.):Project Methodology (cont.):

3. needs on various levels:

labour = unskilled

specialised = semi-skilled,

junior management = skilled

senior management = skilled

4. on-farm training vs. training elsewhere at a

training facility

5. preferred communication language

Project Methodology (cont.):Project Methodology (cont.):

Results: Industry needsResults: Industry needs

1. Languages: English, Xhosa & Afrikaans

2. Areas: West Coast, South Coast, In-land area

3. Training courses in close vacinity of farms

4. Accredited Courses that will

(i) assist with sustaining & creating jobs

(ii) Enable the promotion of employees

(iii) Enable Black Economic Empowerment

Results: Industry needs (cont.)Results: Industry needs (cont.)

4. Inclusive Courses – available to both the fresh water and marine aquaculture sub-sectors

5. Content: (i) Basic life skills (meta skills) (ii) Business Skills (iii) Finance Management skills and (iv) Aquaculture principles

Results: Government needsResults: Government needs

Aquaculture is generally a new emmerging sector.

Officials do not necessarily have the appropriate training to deal with Aquaculture queries

Officials over-committed, small % of time dedicated to the Aquaculture Sector

Every department needs at least two/more Aquaculture Officials

Chicken & egg:

Gov needs to commit more resources (human and financial) in order for sector to grow

Or

Sector needs to grow before gov commits more resources (human and financial)

Results: Government needs Results: Government needs (cont.)(cont.)

Recommendations:Recommendations:

Report contained several recommendationsReport contained several recommendations

i.e.i.e.

1.1. AISA, CIAT and US to work together to AISA, CIAT and US to work together to establish a 3 tier Skills Development and establish a 3 tier Skills Development and Training Programme for the Aquaculture Training Programme for the Aquaculture sector in the Western Cape.sector in the Western Cape.

2.2. AISA to introduce AgriSETA training to AISA to introduce AgriSETA training to the sector by providing a platform for the sector by providing a platform for presentations with regard to its presentations with regard to its programme.programme.

Recommendations (cont.)Recommendations (cont.)

3. AISA, CIAT, US, AgriSETA and FET colleges to consider the approach to integrating the 3 tier programme

The Challenge:The Challenge:Challenge #1:Challenge #1:

To interlink/integrate the various training levels

West Coast area

Inland area

South Coast area

4 yr degree (US)4 yr degree (US)

1 yr diploma1 yr diploma

(CIAT)(CIAT)

ShortShortCoursesCourses(AISA)(AISA)

SETA training

(ABET 1-4, NQF 1-4)

FET Colleges

Challenge #2: Challenge #2:

To get access to funding to implement the

Aquaculture Skills Development & Training

Programme for the Western Cape. !!!!!

The Challenge (cont.):The Challenge (cont.):

Progress to date:Progress to date:

1. AgriSETA service provider introductory presentation at the Sept 2007 Southern Aquaculture Working Group (SAWG) meeting – to be repeated

2. 4 yr Agriculture Degree at US (with Aquaculture as the main subject) - in place

3. 1 yr diploma course at CIAT – in progress4. Short course funding application by AISA

- in progress

Progress to date (cont.):Progress to date (cont.):

Still to take place (once funding has been

obtained):

Course material to be compiled

Course material to be accredited

Course material to be translated into

3 languages

Service providers to be sourced

Conclusion:Conclusion:

A Skills Development and Training Programme is of

the utmost importance for the growth of the sector,

its sustainability, promotion of employees into

management levels thereby contributing to Black

Economic Empowerment.

Even though most, if not all, stakeholders

appreciate the importance of skills development and

training, funding is still not as forthcoming as it

should be !

Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:

AISA strongly supports multi-organisational collaboration and wishes to thank all the

organisations that have in one way or another contributed to the successes that AISA have had over the past three years.

THANK YOU

References:References: BotesBotes L, Thompson G and Louw R 2006. L, Thompson G and Louw R 2006.

Benchmarking Survey of the South African Benchmarking Survey of the South African Aquaculture (marine and fresh water) Aquaculture (marine and fresh water) Sector, AISA report.Sector, AISA report.

Botes LBotes L 2007. Skills development, 2007. Skills development, Capacity Building and Training Capacity Building and Training requirements in the Western Cape, AISA requirements in the Western Cape, AISA report.report.

www.ai-sa.org.zawww.ai-sa.org.za