New agribusiness transformation programme

Strong partnerships are needed for the development of black commercial farmers and blackowned agribusinesses to drive change in the agriculture sector.

This was according to the head of agribusiness at Standard Bank, Nico Groenewald, speaking at the official launch at Nampo of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Agribusiness Transformation Programme run in partnership with the bank.

Groenewald said it was an opportunity for Standard Bank to put what it preached into action.

“I’m confident that with the skills and knowledge of Standard Bank and the UFS, we’ll achieve the desired outcome.”

According to a statement by the university, the aim of the programme was to leverage existing expertise, skills and infrastructure to develop black commercial farmers and blackowned sustainable agribusinesses in the Free State. It was based on an enterprise development model, and included training, finance and access to markets.

The initial focus would be on emerging farmers who have access to land, including land received through land reform. The first 25 farmers were identified in co-operation with the Free State Department of Agriculture, and their training started in February.

“The UFS is applying its strengths in education, training, innovation and technology transfer to ensure the development of these 25 farmers. The impact of the programme is wide and the future brings possibilities of developing a model that will be replicated in the rest of South Africa and Africa,” said Prof Francis Petersen, rector and vice-chancellor of the UFS. Role players at the university include the Agricultural Sciences Division of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Centre for Development Support and the Innovation Office.

The Agricultural Sciences Division had experience in training farmers in formal undergraduate and graduate programmes and short courses, the Centre for Development Support had a solid record of developing entrepreneurs, and the university’s Innovation Office was at the forefront of technology transfer, the statement said. – Julinda Schroeder

ELOISE CALITZ, UFS ABOVE: From left: Anton Nicolaison (provincial head of agribusiness, Standard Bank), Prof Francis Petersen (rector and vice-chancellor of UFS), Mangi Ramabenyane (general manager of farmer support and development, Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), Nico Goenewald (head of agribusiness, Standard Bank), and Bigboy Kokoma (farmer, Bothaville).