AgriSETA

About AgriSETA

AgriSETA is the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority. Like the other SETAs, it was created under the Skills Development Act to fund, coordinate and quality-assure training in its sector. Its offices are at AgriSETA House on Belvedere Road in Arcadia, Pretoria, and it reports to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The authority covers primary agriculture and the first level of processing. That runs from farm inputs and on-farm work to the first steps after harvest. Its sub-sectors include aquaculture, grains and cereals, horticulture, poultry, red meat, seed, sugar, fibre, tobacco, pest control and animal feed. Agriculture also matters for food security and rural jobs, so the authority treats skills in the sector as a national priority. The people it serves include farm workers, farmers, small enterprises and unemployed youth in rural areas.

How AgriSETA supports students

AgriSETA pays for a mix of learning routes. These include learnerships, skills programmes, adult education and training, apprenticeships, internships, mentorships and bursaries for tertiary study. Its bursary calls have invited students to apply for funding in agricultural qualifications, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The money does not always flow straight to the learner. In many cases, AgriSETA funds accredited training providers, employers or institutions, and they then enrol the students. For example, a learnership may be run by an employer with a stipend for the learner. Bursaries tend to be tied to agricultural fields such as crop production, animal science, agricultural engineering, agricultural economics and food production, but the list of priority fields changes with each call.

What to know before applying

Because the process differs between programmes, read each call with care. Some opportunities ask you to apply through the authority's online systems. Others ask you to go through a provider or employer. The official site lists two portals, called Indicium and ILMS, and a head office line on 012 301 5600. You can also write to info@agriseta.co.za with questions.

Gather your papers early. Common requirements include a certified ID copy, your matric results or latest academic record, proof of registration or acceptance, and sometimes proof of household income. Applications that are missing documents are usually rejected, and late forms are not considered. Be wary of scams. AgriSETA does not charge students for funding, so never pay anyone who offers to secure a place for you. Its work-back or service terms are not confirmed here and depend on the programme. If you are hoping for a career in farming or agribusiness, you can also look at commodity bodies, universities and private agricultural companies, many of which fund students in the same fields.