An agricultural and agri-business training clearing house could become a virtual reality within a year, says Linda Pipke of the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development.
A group that includes SCCD, educational institutions, farmers, commodity groups, financial institutions and aboriginal and Métis representatives is now looking for funding to support the centre.
“It would be a one-stop shop to determine what is available and how to access it,” Pipke said.
The group is looking at several options, including creation of a central website.
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The non-profit centre would target new and emerging managers, focusing on financial management, marketing, communications, human resources and leadership.
The clearing house idea was one of several recommendations in a SCCD report entitled the Human Resource Skills Needs Assessment for Primary Agriculture Production Sector.
Funded through Saskatchewan Learning and the Job Start-Future Skills Sector Partnerships Program, the report examined training opportunities for those in agriculture and agribusiness.
Pipke said the timing of the centre’s launch will depend on money.
“It will take some time to establish where the funding will come from,” she said. “The availability of funds will depend on the economic climate.”
Funding could come from business and the provincial government, with some money also possible through the agricultural policy framework.
Other recommendations in the SCCD report included government and industry integrating the needs of the aboriginal and Métis agribusiness manager, forming alliances with training programs in other provinces and approaching financial institutions and equity funds to participate in training.
