National Certificate in Horticulture (fruit production)

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON

The course Education institutes around the country offer variations of the National Certificate in Horticulture but budding orchardists who take a Modern Apprenticeship under the Horticulture Industry Training Organisation can study the fruit production course option while they work.

The HortITO subsidises the cost of the course for apprentices who pay $650 a year instead of $1500 to study part-time over three years. Full-time students pay around $3500 a year.

Apprentices study the course's theory component in block courses at the Eastern Institute of Technology's (EIT) Taradale campus on 12 to 15 days a year. The time spent on individual study varies throughout the year but is probably two to three hours a week at the most.

Students study soils, fertiliser, communications, botany, weed and pest management, tractor operations, the Growsafe agri-chemical course, pollination, horticulture block layout, pruning, and thinning, irrigation, plant health, and crop maturity and quality.

EIT tutors work with HortITO and Hawkes Bay Fruitgrowers Association staff to provide students with work experience where they are taught new orchard skills, or how to improve on ones they have by tutor Gordon Reid, who has a lifetime of fruit production experience.

Work and Income NZ subsidises work placements, which can be a valuable introduction for both apprentices and employers in an industry with a shortage of workers.

Course work is judged by NZQA unit standards and by workplace assessors. Graduates can go on to study for an EIT Diploma in Horticulture, in which is embedded the National Diploma in Agribusiness Management (Level 5).

They can also go on to complete a Lincoln or Massey University Diploma in Horticulture, and Massey also offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture.

Course numbers are not limited. At present at EIT, 25 students are in their first year of the course, 23 are in their second and 15 on their third year of study. Enrolments are taken at the beginning of the year, and mid-year. Because of the seasonal nature of orcharding, deadlines for applications are flexible.

Graduates can expect to find work across the board - as horticulture block manager, foreman, leading hand - and with individual orchardists or companies ranging from small to large. Salaries range from $35,000 to $45,000.

What students think:

Hamish Blackberry, 20

Orchard manager

Hastings

Graduated 2004

I was working for my father on his apple orchard when we went along to the EIT open day. They had just started the cadetship [Modern Apprenticeship scheme] up again and I thought it was a good option to study and work at the same time.

I learned pretty much everything I know on the course like pest and disease management, crop loading, communication. On the family orchard I only did things like drive the tractor.

The tutors know when the busy times on the orchard are and most classes are in the winter. There's quite a lot of homework. It is tough going but the tutors are excellent - good, practical and down-to-earth. Doing the apprenticeship was great because you can earn while you get a qualification. I'd recommend it because if you stick at it you are in a growth industry and there are lots of people wanting workers.

What employers think

Chris Skerman

Orchard owner

Hastings

My brother and I have three apple orchards covering 24ha. We had a manager who hired Hamish and when the manager left Hamish stepped into the breach.

He was about 18 or 19 at the time but had showed he was committed to the industry by doing the EIT course and he is honest and reliable.

I'm not an orchardist but we gave him our support and said we'd employ any consultants he needed. In a short space of time he'd really stepped up to the mark. It was a most successful transition.

A lot of it is dealing with people - pickers and pruners. He does all the hiring and firing, which is a big call for a young guy. I don't know much about the course but we've had tremendous value from it in Hamish. I think it gave him confidence as well as the theory and practice.

The qualification

National Certificate in Horticulture (fruit production)

Modern Apprenticeship

Horticulture Industry Training Organisation

Offered by: Eastern Institute of Technology; Otago Polytech

Ph: 0800 467 844

Earning: $35,000 to $45,000