AFGRI Internships 2027: Applications Open for Graduates

The 18-month graduate programme will be based within AFGRI’s Grain Management Department and is expected to commence on 1 February 2027. It is aimed at graduates interested in agriculture, agricultural economics, commodity markets, grain management, finance, risk management and commercial decision-making.

Internship Application Closing Date: 30 September 2026

Internship Location: Centurion, South Africa

Programme Duration: 18 months

Programme Commencement Date: 1 February 2027

About the AFGRI Graduate Internship Programme 2027

AFGRI’s Graduate Programme provides graduates with practical exposure to the agricultural and grain-management industry.

Successful candidates will gain workplace experience in areas including:

• Grain management
• Agricultural markets
• Commercial analysis
• Risk management
• Grain logistics
• Commodity markets
• The broader grain value chain

The programme may be particularly suitable for graduates who want to develop careers involving the commercial and analytical side of South Africa’s agricultural sector.

Qualifications Required

Applicants must have completed an NQF Level 7 Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields:

• Agricultural Economics
• Agribusiness Management
• Agriculture
• Economics
• Finance
• Risk Management
• A related commercial discipline
• A related agricultural discipline

Applicants should ensure that their completed qualification meets the NQF Level 7 requirement before applying.

Minimum Requirements

In addition to the relevant Bachelor’s degree, applicants should have:

• Strong academic performance, particularly in quantitative, economic, agricultural or financial subjects;
• Computer literacy;
• Practical proficiency in Microsoft Excel; and
• A valid driver’s licence or the ability to obtain one before the programme starts.

Because the programme begins on 1 February 2027, applicants who do not currently have a driver’s licence should pay particular attention to the requirement that they must be able to obtain one before commencement.

Advantageous Qualifications and Experience

AFGRI indicates that certain qualifications and previous experience will be advantageous but are not presented as the core minimum requirements.

These include previous exposure to:

• Grain production
• Agricultural markets
• Commodity trading
• Grain logistics
• Silo operations

Completion of the Agricultural Products Markets Dealers Exam may also be advantageous.

Short-course exposure in the following areas may strengthen an applicant’s profile:

• JSE agricultural derivatives
• Futures and options
• Hedging
• Price-risk management

Previous vacation work, internships, job shadowing or other practical agricultural experience may also be beneficial.

Postgraduate Studies May Be an Advantage

Candidates who have completed postgraduate studies in the following areas may also have an advantage:

• Agricultural Economics
• Agribusiness
• Finance
• Risk Management

Applicants should nevertheless note that the minimum educational requirement provided for the programme is a completed NQF Level 7 Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Skills and Competencies

AFGRI is looking for graduates who demonstrate a combination of analytical, interpersonal and professional abilities.

Candidates should be:

• Analytical and comfortable working with numbers and data;
• Commercially minded;
• Interested in agricultural markets;
• Curious and willing to learn;
• Willing to gain hands-on experience;
• Good communicators;
• Effective problem-solvers;
• Capable of working independently;
• Able to work effectively as part of a team; and
• Interested in developing a career within the grain and agricultural industry.

Additional Competencies

Applicants should also demonstrate:

• High attention to detail and quality;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Adaptability and flexibility;
• Willingness to learn;
• Strong organisational abilities;
• Good time-management skills;
• Professionalism;
• Integrity and reliability;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to manage stress;
• Teamwork and collaboration;
• Commitment to continuous self-improvement;
• Patience;
• Conflict-resolution abilities;
• Readiness for change; and
• A proactive mindset.

What Will Graduates Learn?

The programme is designed to expose graduates to several important parts of the grain industry rather than limiting their development to purely theoretical knowledge.

Successful candidates can expect practical exposure to areas such as grain management, agricultural markets, commercial analysis, risk management and grain logistics.

For graduates from Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Finance or Economics backgrounds, this provides an opportunity to see how academic concepts are applied within a commercial agricultural environment.

Who Should Apply?

The programme may be relevant to graduates who want to build careers within the grain and agricultural industries.

Applicants should have a genuine interest in understanding how agriculture interacts with:

Markets → commodity prices → grain logistics → commercial analysis → risk → agricultural decision-making

Candidates who are comfortable working with numbers and data may be particularly suited to the analytical elements of the programme.

Agricultural Economics Graduates

Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics are specifically included among the qualifying fields.

Agricultural economics can involve applying economic principles to agriculture, food systems, markets, production and agricultural businesses.

The AFGRI programme could therefore provide practical exposure to areas such as agricultural markets, commercial analysis and grain-management activities.

Agribusiness Management Graduates

Applicants who studied Agribusiness Management are also encouraged to apply.

The commercial agricultural sector requires people who understand both agricultural activities and business decision-making.

Exposure to grain management and agricultural markets may therefore be particularly relevant to graduates interested in the commercial side of agriculture.

Finance and Economics Graduates

The programme is not restricted to graduates who studied agriculture.

AFGRI also lists Economics, Finance and Risk Management among the qualifying disciplines.

Applicants from these fields should nevertheless have a genuine interest in agricultural markets and the grain industry.

Understanding Commodity and Grain Markets

One of the notable aspects of this graduate programme is its focus on agricultural and commodity markets.

Commodity markets can involve changing prices and commercial risks, which is why AFGRI identifies exposure to areas such as the following as advantageous:

JSE agricultural derivatives → Futures → Options → Hedging → Price-risk management

Applicants are not necessarily required to have completed these courses to meet the basic requirements, but previous exposure may be beneficial.

Microsoft Excel Skills

AFGRI specifically requires practical proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Applicants should therefore be comfortable using spreadsheets and working with numerical information.

Candidates invited to further stages of the recruitment process should be prepared to demonstrate the computer and analytical abilities stated in their applications.

Driver’s Licence Requirement

Applicants must either:

Have a valid driver’s licence

or

Be able to obtain one before the programme commences.

The graduate programme is scheduled to commence on 1 February 2027.

Programme Duration

The AFGRI Graduate Programme will run for approximately:

18 months

This provides successful graduates with an extended period in which to develop workplace knowledge and practical experience within the Grain Management Department.

When Does the AFGRI Graduate Programme Start?

The programme is scheduled to commence on:

1 February 2027

Applicants should therefore consider their availability before applying.

How to Apply for AFGRI Graduate Internship Programme 2027

Applications must be submitted online through the AFGRI recruitment platform.

Click here to apply for AFGRI Graduate Internship Programme 2027

Applicants should ensure that their CV and online application clearly reflect their qualification, academic background, computer skills, agricultural or commercial experience and any relevant exposure to grain or commodity markets.