The Baynesfield Training Academy (BTA) was opened in June 2012 with the purpose of transferring industry knowledge to aspiring pig farmers, existing smallholder farmers, government officials and any other person with the interest of learning pig farming.
Apart from the training, the academy also runs a 100-sow unit which, is operated by commercial standards. To ensure the sustainability of the academy, both the training facility and the piggery must operate profitably. Even with all the available resources, for a farm to achieve its maximum efficiency, the personnel remain the important part of the equation.
To further fulfil the objective Baynesfield Training Academy (BTA) in 2015 partnered with department of agriculture forestry and fisheries (DAFF) to offer practical experience to agricultural graduates. The academy accommodates two graduates at a time for a period of 12 months. Their monthly salary is paid by DAFF.
The graduates are employed in the piggery and they are involved in all aspects of the piggery from mating to marketing. The impact and contribution of these graduates do not go unnoticed, as the piggery continues to produce outstanding results.
The graduate’s contribution is not only limited to the BTA but to the industry at large. To date, a total of nine graduates have been trained through the BTA, of which seven have employment in the industry. A special thank you to the graduates, the entire BTA staff and DAFF.
Kgadi Senyatsi (SAPPO)
On the photograph are Sabelo Mthembu (DAFF graduate), Rodney Khumalo (BTA piggery manager), Zanovuyo Sithole and Tebogo Ledwaba (DAFF graduates)
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) coordinates industry interventions and collaboratively manages risks in the value chain to enable the sustainability and profitability of pork producers in South Africa.
