What AGRICOLLEGES international does

AGRICOLLEGES international is a South Africa-based online agricultural education provider founded in 2018 by Howard Blight (CEO) and Wynand Espach (COO) and headquartered in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province. It delivers blended learning through the Desire2Learn (D2L) Brightspace Learning Management System, licensed via South African distributor Visions Consulting, combining independent online study, live facilitator-led webinars, video-uploaded practical assignments, and short in-person practicals at partner farms. The company is AgriSETA-accredited at NQF Level 4 and issues SAQA-recognised National Certificates in Plant Production, General Agriculture, Animal Production, and Plant Production: Cannabis & Hemp, supplemented by an extensive short-course catalog spanning avocado, macadamia, mango, citrus (with a 3-part post-harvest series), cassava, maize, forestry (17 courses co-developed with SAPPI), pig farming, poultry, aquaponics, irrigation, and life skills.

AGRICOLLEGES serves emerging farmers and school leavers seeking accredited qualifications as well as established farmers, farm managers, and agribusinesses pursuing short-format upskilling, with documented alumni across 47 countries. Revenue is generated primarily through course tuition: one-year National Certificates priced at R42,000 (R58,000 for Cannabis & Hemp) and short courses ranging from R150 for video micro-modules to R7,900 for 8-12 week Fundamentals courses, with a 3+ staff group discount for business enrollment. Distribution is direct, self-serve web enrollment under a product-led GTM, supported by WhatsApp, email, social, and inside-sales course consultants assigned per 25-student cohort. Credit access is facilitated through Student Hero, MANATI, ACI Payment Plans, FUNDI, Fever Tree, and a Chancen International Income Share Agreement.

The company operates as a privately held, founder-owned business with no disclosed external funding, no M&A history, and a small team (~12 named staff across admissions, instructional design, facilitation, and quality management), anchoring course development through a partnership ecosystem with content and industry collaborators (SAMGA, Fruit Farm Group, Cheeba Cannabis Academy, Training4Farmers, Kleinskuur Aquaponics, SAGRITEX, Felix Reinders, Joy Adiele) and credentialing via AgriSETA.

Name

AGRICOLLEGES international

Legal name

AGRICOLLEGES International

Website

https://agricolleges.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AGRICOLLEGES international is a South African online agricultural education platform offering AgriSETA-accredited NQF Level 4 National Certificates and short courses in crop production, livestock, forestry, and agribusiness, delivered via the D2L Brightspace LMS to individual learners and agricultural businesses across 47 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Agricultural Education

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Content Conversion, Digitization & LMS/SCORM/xAPI Packaging (EDAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Online agricultural education
• Agricultural training courses
• NQF certification programmes
• Blended learning agriculture
• Agribusiness short courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. National Certificate Tuition: Full-time one-year programmes priced at R42,000 (Plant Production, General Agriculture, Animal Production) or R58,000 (Cannabis & Hemp). Includes online learning, practical components, and certification upon completion.
2. Short Course Fees: Fundamentals courses (8-12 weeks) priced at R7,400-R7,900. Introductory courses (4-8 weeks) range from R1,000-R6,300. Citrus, Forestry, Video-based, and Piggery courses range from R150-R4,500. One-time payment per course.
3. Financing Partners Revenue Share: Partnership with Student Hero, MANATI, ACI Payment Plans, FUNDI, and Fever Tree for student financing options. Income Share Agreement (ISA) through Chancen allows students to study now and repay over 7-12 months.
4. Group/Business Enrollments: Special discounts offered for businesses and farmers enrolling 3 or more staff members in Fundamentals courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AGRICOLLEGES international is an online agricultural education provider delivering AgriSETA-accredited NQF Level 4 National Certificate programmes (Plant Production, General Agriculture, Animal Production, Plant Production: Cannabis & Hemp) and a catalogue of short courses (Fundamentals, Introductory, Forestry, Citrus, Pig Farming, Video-Based Learning) via the Desire2Learn (D2L) Brightspace Learning Management System. Courses combine independent online study, live webinars, video-uploaded practical assignments, and compulsory in-person practical sessions in South Africa. Pricing is modular, ranging from ZAR 1,000 introductory modules to ZAR 58,000 for the one-year Cannabis & Hemp certificate, with financing partners and group discounts available.

Product overview

AGRICOLLEGES International is an online agricultural education platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of AgriSETA-accredited courses. The core offering consists of four NQF Level 4 National Certificate programmes (Plant Production, General Agriculture, Animal Production, and Plant Production: Cannabis & Hemp), delivered primarily through the Desire2Learn (D2L) Brightspace Learning Management System. The platform supplements these with Fundamentals Courses (8-12 weeks covering specific crops like avocado, cassava, macadamia, mango, maize, and agribusiness), Introductory Courses (4-8 weeks covering agribusiness, plant/animal production, irrigation, aquaponics, poultry, and life skills), Forestry Courses (17 courses developed with SAPPI), Video-Based Learning Courses (with SAGRITEX), Pig Farming courses (with Training4Farmers), and Citrus Courses covering the full value chain. The platform employs a blended learning approach combining independent online learning, live webinars, and practical assignments, with automated course administration and integrated payment processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AgriSETA-accredited Courses: National Certificates accredited at NQF Level 4 by AgriSETA
• Chancen Agreement
• Foskor Project Phalaborwa

Products and services

• National Certificate in Plant Production One-year, full-time online programme accredited at NQF Level 4 equipping students with farm management and operational skills for sustainable farming, agribusiness, and good agricultural practices; priced at ZAR 42,000 with a compulsory 5-day in-person practical in South Africa.
• National Certificate in General Agriculture One-year, full-time online programme accredited at NQF Level 4 providing a broad foundation in all areas of agriculture for school leavers, farm operators, supervisors, junior managers, and emerging farmers; priced at ZAR 42,000 with a compulsory 5-day in-person practical.
• National Certificate in Animal Production One-year, full-time online programme accredited at NQF Level 4 covering animal nutrition, anatomy and physiology, breeding systems, feedlot management, food safety, farm budgeting, and agribusiness planning; priced at ZAR 42,000 with a compulsory practical component.
• National Certificate in Plant Production: Cannabis & Hemp One-year, full-time online programme developed in partnership with Cheeba Cannabis Academy combining universal farming principles with specialist Cannabis and Hemp training for Africa's cannabis industry; includes 10 live Zoom sessions with industry experts and a 5-day practical at a SAHPRA-licensed farm; priced at ZAR 58,000.
• Fundamentals Courses (8–12 weeks): Agribusiness, Avocado, Cassava, GAP, Macadamia, Maize, Mango 8–12-week online programmes covering agribusiness fundamentals and crop-specific cultivation for avocado, cassava, macadamia, maize, mango, and Good Agricultural Practices. Priced ZAR 7,400–7,900 per course; group discounts available for businesses enrolling 3+ staff. Course content developed with industry partners including The Fruit Farm Group, SAMGA, and Joy Adiele.
• Introductory Courses (4–8 weeks): Agribusiness, Plant Production, Irrigation, Animal Production, Aquaponics, Poultry, Life Skills, Agribiz 101 4–8-week online programmes providing foundational agricultural and life skills content including Agribiz 101, Introduction to Agribusiness, Plant Production, Animal Production, Irrigation (developed with Felix Reinders and SAGRITEX), Aquaponics (with Kleinskuur Aquaponics), Poultry Production, and Building Future Leaders life skills. Priced ZAR 1,000–6,300 per course.
• Forestry Courses (SAPPI partnership) A series of 17 online forestry short courses developed with SAPPI and Forestry South Africa covering the forestry value chain (silviculture, environmental management, harvesting, health and safety, entrepreneurship, financial management, forestry certification). Priced ZAR 1,800–4,500 per course with partial bursaries available.
• Pig Farming: An In-depth Guide to Successful Breeding A 6-week online programme developed in collaboration with Training4Farmers covering pig anatomy and physiology, advanced breeding practices, production management, reproductive cycles, and production planning. Priced at ZAR 4,400.
• Video-Based Learning Courses Short video-driven courses developed with SAGRITEX covering Beef Production Management, Beef Production Herd Health, Financial Management, Business Plan Creation, Agri-Marketing, Record Keeping, and Poultry Basics. Priced ZAR 150–2,000 per course.
• Citrus Courses (Planting Management, Propagation, Pruning, IPM, Harvesting, Post-Harvest Series, Packing) Specialised citrus courses covering the full citrus value chain including Planting Management, Propagation, Pruning, Integrated Pest Management, Harvesting, a three-part Post-Harvest Series, and Packing. Priced ZAR 1,200–2,835 per course with durations ranging 3–7 weeks.
• Student Financing Partners (Student Hero, MANATI, ACI Payment Plans, FUNDI, Fever Tree, Chancen Income Share Agreement) Integrated student financing options offered through partners including Student Hero, MANATI, ACI Payment Plans, FUNDI, and Fever Tree payment plans, plus a Chancen Income Share Agreement (ISA) that allows students to study now and repay over 7–12 months (up to ZAR 6,000 of funding available for introductory courses).

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500+ students trained and alumni network across 47 countries
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Chancen InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChancen International provides Income Share Agreement (ISA) financing for AGRICOLLEGES courses, allowing students to study now and repay over 7-12 months. Funding of R6,000 available through the Chancen Agreement for introductory courses. Partnership enables employed applicants to upskill while working.
• Cheeba Cannabis AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing and delivering the National Certificate in Plant Production: Cannabis & Hemp programme. Cheeba Cannabis Academy provides industry expertise for cannabis and hemp cultivation training, with 10 live Zoom sessions with industry experts included in the course.
• SAPPIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPPI collaborates with AGRICOLLEGES to offer 17 online forestry short courses. The partnership includes partial bursary funding for selected forestry courses through ETG (Educate to Grow). Courses cover silviculture, harvesting, health & safety, and forestry certification.
• Forestry South Africa (FSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestry South Africa supports the forestry short course programme, providing industry endorsement and expertise for the 17 courses covering the forestry value chain from silviculture to certification.
• SAGRITEXcoreTechnology or IntegrationSAGRITEX collaborated with AGRICOLLEGES to develop video-based learning courses and the Introduction to Irrigation course. Provides high-quality audio-visual learning materials and subject matter expertise for agricultural training content.
• Felix Reinders (Subject Matter Expert)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional engineer and former President of the South African Irrigation Institute and International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage. Developed the Introduction to Irrigation course content, bringing expertise in irrigation systems, water management, and agricultural water use.
• Kleinskuur AquaponicsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with aquaculture expert Henk Stander and Kleinskuur Aquaponics for the Introduction to Aquaponics course. Includes three-day practical sessions at a working aquaponics system in Gauteng.
• Training4FarmersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining4Farmers developed the Pig Farming: An In-depth Guide to Successful Breeding course, bringing over 30 years of livestock management experience and a decade of international lecturing expertise.
• Joy AdiellemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperienced agronomist with international expertise in plant nutrition, soil fertility, and crop management. Developed the Fundamentals of Cassava Production course content.
• The Fruit Farm GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored the development of the Fundamentals of Avocado Production course, providing industry expertise and support for agricultural training content.
• South African Mango Growers' Association (SAMGA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with SAMGA to develop the Fundamentals of Mango Production course, providing industry endorsement and specialized knowledge in mango cultivation practices.
• AgriSETAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgriSETA (Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority) provides accreditation for all National Certificates at NQF Level 4. Ensures courses meet South African national qualification standards and Skills Development Act requirements.
• Visions ConsultingmajorTechnology or IntegrationSouth African distributor and partner for Desire2Learn (D2L) Brightspace Learning Management System. Provides the digital learning platform infrastructure delivering AGRICOLLEGES online courses.
• Amorentia EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmorentia Estate near Tzaneen serves as the foundation for AGRICOLLEGES operations. Co-founder Howard Blight owns Amorentia, and COO Wynand Espach serves as Managing Director. Farm provides practical training destination and agricultural expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• eCornell: Cornell University's online professional development unit delivering certificate programmes across multiple verticals including agriculture and food. Directly comparable in monetizing short-form, accredited online certificates for working professionals.
• iCRA: International Centre for development-oriented Research in Agriculture, offering capacity-building and training programmes for agricultural professionals and smallholder farmers globally. Comparable as a specialist agricultural education provider targeting emerging-market practitioners.
• MANCOSA: South African distance-learning higher education institution offering accredited online programmes including in agribusiness. Competes for the same South African working-adult learner seeking flexible, accredited qualifications.
• Milpark Education: South African private higher education provider offering fully online accredited programmes to working adults. Competes for the same distance-learning, mid-career professional segment in the South African market.
• Training4Farmers: International provider of livestock and agricultural training that co-developed AGRICOLLEGES' pig farming course. Directly comparable in delivering specialized online agricultural skills training to farmers across multiple countries.

Broad incumbents

• edX: Global MOOC platform founded by Harvard and MIT offering university-level courses including agriculture and food systems. Comparable as a scalable online learning destination for agricultural upskilling, but without the practical or regional accreditation element.
• Coursera: Global MOOC platform offering university- and industry-led courses including agricultural science specializations. Comparable as a global online learning destination, though broader in scope and lacking AGRICOLLEGES' regulatory accreditation and practical components.
• Stellenbosch University (Short Courses): South African research university offering continuing education and short courses in agriculture and related fields. Comparable as a domestic source of accredited agricultural training, though traditional in delivery rather than fully online.

Emerging players

• African Leadership University: Pan-African higher education institution with campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda delivering accredited degrees, increasingly focused on workforce-relevant learning for African youth. Comparable in delivering accredited, accessible higher education across multiple African countries.
• Cheeba Cannabis Academy: South African cannabis training provider that co-developed AGRICOLLEGES' cannabis curriculum. Comparable as a specialist cannabis education provider, though more narrowly focused on the cannabis vertical without the broader agricultural catalog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/agricolleges
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/agricolleges
• Facebookfacebook.com/Agricolleges
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agricolleges-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/agricolleges
• TikToktiktok.com/@agricolleges

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AGRICOLLEGES international