The Centre for Agricultural Management was established in January 1994 at the Faculty of Agriculture (now Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences) at the University of the Free State where farmers, agriculturists and agricultural advisers can be equipped with management knowledge, techniques and skills with a view to ensuring profitable and sustainable agricultural production in a highly competitive environment by more effective management.

Research is done on the e conomics of precision farming in South Africa and technology transfer.

The Centre offers a wide range of possibilities of formal and informal training programmes in agricultural management.

A problem-centered research programe is an integral part of the training proramme. Research includes strategic management, financial management, transfer and adoption of new technologies and precision agriculture. Some of the research projects are also aimed at the development of informal training programmes. The Centre is also becoming a leader in South Africa in precision agriculture research.

A multidisciplinary approach is followed at the Centre, involving seveal disciplines and a training panel of experts from this university. The holistic approach followed in the programme provides a comprehensive decision-making background for students. Training is practical and research concentrates on the unique strategic problems that farmers encounter as general managers and in the development of decision-making support systems for the farmer.

Activities at the Centre for Agricultural Management centre around four legs, namely:

formal training

informal training

research

community development/service-learning.

VISION

To be a Centre of preference for agricultural management training in South Africa and Africa.

MISSION

The Centre for Agricultural Management will provide the highest standard and quality of agricultural management training through relevant formal and informal training, research and development programmes at regional, national and international level.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

To provide relevant multidisciplinary agricultural management training in South Africa and Africa

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

To develop, coordinate and provide quality multidisciplinary informal short courses in agriculture to produce top farmers in South Africa and Africa, by enhancing the farmer's management efficiency and capacity in order to ensure continuous profitable farming.

To equip learners with the required management knowledge, techniques and skills by using the holistic systems approach to formal and informal agricultural management training.

To establish a multidisciplinary post-graduate action research programme aimed at addressing the agricultural challenges in Africa.

To be actively involved in the development of management skills of commercial and emerging farmers.

To be actively involved in service-learning and community development projects.

ACTIVITIES

Activities at the Centre for Agricultural Management centre around four legs, namely

formal training

informal training

research and

community development (especially backyard vegetable gardening).

A multidisciplinary holistic approach is followed at the Centre, involving all disciplines in agriculture and a training panel of experts from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. This approach provides a comprehensive decision-making background for learners. Training is practical and research concentrates on the unique strategic problems that farmers encounter as general managers and in the development of decision-making support systems for the farmer. A problem-centred research programme forms an integral part of the training programme.

Research includes strategic management, financial management, transfer and adoption of new technologies and precision agriculture. Some of the research projects are also aimed at the development of informal training programmes.

The Centre is also becoming a leader in South Africa in precision agriculture research which is sponsored by New Holland SA.