Flexibility needed in agri education

By Kay Kevlihan

There is an urgent need to provide agricultural courses suited to the needs of part-time farmers. Flexible training, including night and weekend courses, are still not the norm at Teagasc training centres but where they are on offer they are well supported, in some cases oversubscribed.

Major financial benefits from certain grant schemes and exemptions are ruled out for those who do not have the appropriate training.

The launch in 2004 of an e-learning option, currently operating on a pilot basis, will be a major breakthrough for young part-time farmers who wish to study from home.

In the meantime, Teagasc centres which offer daytime 100 and 80 hour courses, forcing part-time farmers interested in improving their farming skills and knowledge to study during three weeks of their annual holidays.

The level of motivation required to forego annual leave, for many at a time of high labour demand on farms, is enormous.

Out of a total of 40 training centres there are only about 10 centres offering flexible courses catering for an average of 25 participants, providing the kind of flexibility needed for part-time farmers.

There is big demand among farmers for flexible agricultural training, according to Kevin Sills, Teagasc Education Officer, Carlow.

"In Carlow we run the FETAC Vocational Certificate in Agriculture over three years at weekends and nights. We have between 20 to 25 participants studying two nights a week from October to April, and six to eight Saturdays. They also spend two days in Kildalton College of Agriculture."

Great interest

So keen is the interest in the FETAC Vocational Certificate in Agriculture, run on a flexible day and night basis in Sligo, that it is likely to be oversubscribed.

Sligo Education Officer Owen Duffy said: "We promoted the course in a local paper and over 60 people attended an information evening.

"We can cater for a maximum of 30 people on the course and following the meeting 26 were fully registered and paid up. Eight more people expressed strong interest so it is likely it will be oversubscribed."

He continued: "It is so important for us to provide courses that suit people who are taking up part-time farming and to me that is vital because they are the farmers of the future, even on a part-time basis.

Where a young person intends to go into full-time farming we strongly encourage agricultural college. If they are going into full-time employment and part-time farming, it is probably more preferable that they focus on training for their career and avail of our type of course.

In Sligo 90% of farming families have another form of off-farm income so we are trying to multi skill people who are going into part-time farming. Part-time farmers can avail of a lot of schemes and benefits through agricultural training."

Financial incentives

It makes sound economic sense for those involved in farming to gain the necessary qualifications.

Our Education Supplement in 16 August issue outlined in detail the financial benefits of having recognised agricultural training.

Savings of up €22,500 in stamp duty where a young farmer acquires his/her parents' farm worth €500,000 is just one of the savings, but there are many more, including €9,523 installation aid to young trained farmers on setup.

Night classes

An example of this flexible approach to agricultural training is the new night programme introduced by Teagasc Kildare. The 100 hours Farm Management Course starting in early September will take place at night.

According to Kildare CAO Larry O'Loughlin, the course is suitable for farmers taking over the family farm who will have to pay stamp duty on the transfer.

He said the timing of the course, from 7pm to 10pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, will accommodate those who are also working off the farm during the day.

Kildare Education Officer, Tom Cleary, who is co-ordinating the course, stresses that every aspect of farm management including grassland management, soil management, dairy, cattle, sheep and cereal production, farm accounts and environment management will be covered.

Mr. Cleary also said that to reflect the changing landscape of Irish farming there will also be modules on farm forestry, health and safety, animal welfare and food assurance.

The course is approved by FETAC, the National Accreditation Agency for Vocational Education, with each successful participant receiving a FETAC/Teagasc Certificate on completion.

It can also be used as a building block to a recognised agricultural training qualification using the modular system under FETAC. The course starts in the Teagasc Office, Naas at 7 pm on Tuesday 9 September to 11 December.

In addition there will be four practical days on Saturdays, again to accommodate people who are working off the farm.

The cost of the course is €400, excluding the cost of the prescribed books and study material.

Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and is confined to 25 participants. Further details and enrolment forms can be obtained from Teagasc, Naas (045-879203) or Teagasc, Athy (0507-31719) or by contacting Tom Cleary directly at Teagasc, Athy.