Hortgro is the industry body for South Africa’s deciduous fruit growers, the farmers who produce apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines, mostly in the Western and Eastern Cape. The industry needs horticulturists, scientists, economists and managers, and Hortgro’s bursary programme trains them. Hortgro says it has given bursaries worth more than R43 million to 704 students over nine years.
Hortgro’s fixed window: 15 May to 15 August
Hortgro accepts applications once a year. The round for 2027 studies opened on 15 May 2026 and closed on 15 August 2026, so students who want Hortgro funding now have to aim at the next window. Hortgro’s brochure says it takes applications directly every year between 15 May and 15 August. Hortgro has not yet posted its exact 2027 dates, so check the Hortgro bursary programme page from early May. The online application form appears there when the round opens.
Degrees the fruit industry wants
Hortgro ties its bursaries to scarce and critical skills in the sector and gives preference to students in those disciplines. Its brochure names:
- horticulture, on the production or post-harvest side;
- agricultural science, agricultural economics and agri-management;
- agricultural biotechnology, microbiology, plant pathology and entomology;
- soil and water science;
- marketing and project management.
Both undergraduates and postgraduates can apply, as long as they are South African and enrolled in, or applying to, a programme linked to the deciduous fruit industry. Hortgro selects on academic excellence, real interest in the industry and the contribution the student could make to it later. Hortgro does not publish a minimum percentage.
Money, a mentor and time on farms
A Hortgro bursary pays all or part of the tuition and adds a stipend for study costs. Every bursar gets a mentor for the length of the studies. Hortgro also offers internships, work-integrated learning, visits to industry facilities and a leadership development programme, which puts students in touch with growers and the experts in Hortgro’s network before they look for work.
What Hortgro expects in return
Hortgro asks its bursars to send quarterly updates on their well-being and studies, submit their results every semester, behave well throughout their studies and attend Hortgro functions. After the window closes, staff shortlist applicants and a committee makes the final selection.
Questions and other agriculture funding
Hortgro answers bursary questions at learn@hortgro.co.za. Students who missed the August deadline can look at the Citrus Academy bursary for agriculture students, which serves the citrus side of the fruit business, or at the national agriculture department’s bursary. Horticulture and landscaping students may also qualify for the South African Nursery Association bursary.