Home: About us: MANAGEMENT TEAM: PROFILES
Head of Department: Joyene Isaacs
Joyene Isaacs
Tel: 021 808 5005
Fax: 021 808 5000
E-mail:JoyeneI@elsenburg.com
I have a background steeped in agriculture. I grew up in a small rural village where most families were involved in farming to supplement their household income. My family specifically farmed with strawberries and seedlings (ornamental and vegetable plants). Many hours were spent tending to the agricultural chores.
I completed my schooling at Lückhoff Senior Secondary School in Stellenbosch in 1982 and then registered at the University of the Western Cape for a B Sc. degree with Plant Protection and Plant Pathology as majors. I continued with Plant Pathology as a major and completed the B Sc. Hon in 1986. I have registered for an M Phil: Agricultural Management Systems at the University of Stellenbosch to consolidate my development experience.
My interest in agriculture can be traced to my background and when the opportunity to work with resource-limited farmers in Kwa-zulu Natal presented itself, I left the Province to start my career in agricultural development. After 2 years in Natal, I was offered a position at a NGO, the Land Development Unit in 1993, which I accepted. Thus ensuring my return to my roots and grassroots projects in the Western Cape.
After 3 years at the Land Development Unit, I joined the Agricultural Research Council in 1996 at INFRUITEC as a centre co-ordinator for the resource-limited farmers’ programme. The job entailed the management of a team from the Institute working with resource-limited farmers and the development of effective linkages with all role players to ensure an appropriate research agenda for fruit production and processing systems.
In 1998, I was appointed as the assistant-director: Resource-limited Producers’ Programme, managing a bigger team and taking on the responsibility of both Infruitec and Nietvoorbij campuses.
I have published and presented a range of publications, from scientific to development papers and attended various conferences, seminars and workshops (Foresight process of DACST and Policy Working: Agriculture for NDA) where I facilitated and chaired different sessions. I have also been elected (2000 – 2001) as President of the Southern and Eastern African Association for Farming Systems Research and Extension.
