16 January 2026 Open Day

Peritum Agri Institute celebrates 25 years and enters Higher Education with new accredited qualifications.

Bloemfontein – In 2026, Peritum Agri Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary in the agricultural training sector and marks this milestone with a significant new phase in its development: the institution is now officially registered as a Higher Education Institution in South Africa. Founded in 2001, Peritum Agri Institute has, over the past quarter century, established itself as a key role player in agricultural education and training in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The institution offers career-oriented programmes in primary agriculture, agricultural production, and the corporate agricultural environment.

In 2012, Peritum College was established as a private agricultural college at the request of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO). Since then, the college has experienced substantial growth, expanding from an initial intake of 12 students to more than 250 enrolled students across two year groups in 2026, with approximately 125 new first-year students expected this year.
Post-school education in South Africa is regulated by legislation through two bodies: the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE). For many years, Peritum Agri Institute was registered within the college system and offered qualifications ranging from NQF Level 2 to NQF Level 5.

Following an intensive six-year process, Peritum Agri Institute now fully complies with the requirements for operating within the higher education framework and has been officially registered as a Higher Education Institution. In addition to this registration, three new qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) are being introduced in 2026. This development expands the academic progression pathway for students who prefer a practical and career-focused approach to agricultural education. Students who have already completed certificate or diploma qualifications at agricultural colleges will now be able to pursue further qualifications up to postgraduate level at the Peritum Higher Education College. This represents a first for private agricultural colleges in South Africa.

According to Peritum Agri Institute, this expansion is driven by the Peritum 2030 vision, which focuses on the development of future-oriented qualifications that enable agricultural professionals to produce with greater precision, efficiency, and sustainability. Over the next few years, qualifications will be developed within four main fields of study: Agri Production, Smart Farming, Urban Agriculture, and Commercial Agri Careers.

Peritum Agri Institute has expressed its appreciation to the South African agricultural sector for its continued support and collaboration, which enables the institution to keep innovating and to take a leading role in career-oriented agricultural education. The institution remains committed to its mission: To render a future-proof workforce that will transform the agri-sector for a sustainable tomorrow.

Enquiries: Odette Shepperson
marketing@peritumagri.com
082 564 8853