"There is a lot of concern about engaging youth in the agricultural sector," IFP spokesman Nhlanhla Msimango said in a statement.

He said agriculture was not seen as an attractive profession.

KwaZulu-Natal had tremendous agricultural potential and profitable farming to attract young farmers.

"Agriculture development practitioners, policy makers, the private sector, government agencies and other related professionals must articulate a new vision for agriculture that can be attractive to young people."

He said subsistence farming needed to be transformed into commercial ventures.

"There is also a need to change the agriculture curriculum in the universities to ensure that it attracts the interest of the youth and to also translate the research activities into direct action on the field for the benefit of farmers."

He called for vocational training centres to revive agriculture in the province.