Speaker
Description
Abstract
South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030 envisages to upskill the many emerging farmers and graduate them to commercial farmers. The previously disadvantaged farmers comprise of this emerging category and above all, prospective farmers are also accommodated in the same category. This calls for learning to be transferred through any available means for knowledge and skill seekers to benefit.
This paper seeks to present findings on the learning techniques used to acquire grain farming competencies through employing classic grounded theory. Fifteen semi-structured interviews with participants comprising of farmers and farm workers were held in the study. Constant comparison method was used to analyse the data. Additionally, three experts validated the learning techniques raised by the participants through the process called triangulation.
Findings showed that early child exposure to farming, learning at educational institutions, openness to mentoring, on-the-job training and participating in refresher training programmes serve as important learning techniques. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are also indicated.
