Potato Industry Development Trust

About the Potato Industry Development Trust

The Potato Industry Development Trust, or PIDT, supports skills and research in the South African potato sector. It works with Potatoes South Africa, the producer organisation in Pretoria that speaks for the country's potato growers. Potatoes SA is based at Persequor Techno Park, and it focuses on research, innovation, transformation and knowledge-sharing in the industry.

Potato farming relies on skilled people. Agronomists, plant scientists, soil specialists and agricultural economists all help growers produce better crops at lower cost. For that reason, the trust offers bursaries instead of leaving the supply of graduates to chance. The trust is funded through statutory levies collected across the potato value chain. It channels that income into research, development and training. Growers deal with weather, plant disease and rising input costs, so good research helps the whole industry stay competitive. Trained graduates then carry the results of that research onto farms.

How the PIDT bursary supports students

The bursary programme supports both undergraduate and postgraduate students at recognised South African tertiary institutions. Undergraduate funding covers fields such as agricultural production, agronomy, plant production and soil science. Postgraduate students at Honours, Masters or PhD level can apply if their research topic relates to potatoes.

Undergraduate students can apply from their first year of study, but the bursary pays from the second year onwards. Applicants should have a strong academic record. In addition, past calls mention an internship and a workplace experience programme. These give students real exposure to the industry and improve their chances of finding a job after graduation.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens who have completed matric. Because the programme is aimed at agricultural fields, a general degree outside these areas is unlikely to qualify. Check the exact list of accepted qualifications in the current call. The bursary comes with a work-back obligation. After you finish your studies, you must work for a potato-industry organisation, company or institution for as long as you received the bursary. In other words, a bursary of three years means three years of service. Make sure you are comfortable with this before you accept an award. It suits students who already want a career in farming, research or agribusiness.

Application dates, forms and funding amounts change from year to year, so check them before you apply. Visit potatoes.co.za, or contact Potatoes SA in Pretoria, to confirm the current requirements. Start gathering your academic record, ID and a motivation letter early, so you can apply as soon as the call opens. Postgraduate applicants should also talk to their supervisor early. A research topic that clearly relates to potatoes, such as crop management, soil health or farm economics, strengthens an application. Explain in your motivation how the findings could help growers. Strong applications link the student's plans to a real need in the industry.