AGCO, Your Agriculture Company, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, is a lead partner in a brand-new training program being established to develop the talent to fill vital junior management roles in African agriculture and the supply chain – currently a major gap in the continent’s skills’ resource.
The Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 25 September to inaugurate this important new agribusiness course, known as the AGCO Agribusiness Program (AAP), with partners Strathmore Business School (SBS) in Kenya, Harper Adams University in the UK and Kenya-based The Bridge Africa which runs programs to prepare graduates for employment.
The demand for agriculture to produce more food from less is driving the pace of change in farming practices. The AAP is open to students throughout Africa and is a direct response to the need to bring young talent into the agribusiness sector in Africa.
“We are extremely proud to have established this comprehensive new agribusiness program,” says Nuradin Osman, AGCO Vice President and General Manager Africa. “As a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural solutions, AGCO is acutely aware of the management skills’ shortage in the African agricultural supply chain sector. Therefore, we have taken the initiative to meet this challenge head-on with a long-term commitment to skills development on the continent.”
Scheduled to commence in March 2018, the AAP will deliver an accredited two-year agribusiness program through SBS in Nairobi, Zambia and South Africa for up to 25 students aged 20-30, leading to potential job opportunities within AGCO Africa. Going forward, the aim is to extend the program and offer the course using remote and blended learning techniques.
“This is a strong business-oriented program that will provide training in critical skills and develop leadership and strategic expertise to drive African agricultural prosperity,” Mr Osman explains. “It underlines our approach to ensure Africa is run from Africa. Upon completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to be placed within the AGCO Africa organisation, thus providing excellent job prospects. It’s a win-win situation for all those involved.”
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Commenting Dr George Njenga, Dean, Strathmore Business School said: “Through this partnership, we are confident that we have the capacity to meet the needs of the agricultural sector. The program will integrate both theoretical and industrial relevance to address the current trends in the sector.”
Source APO