AGDA the vehicle to implement government’s ‘agricultural master plan’

Access to the agriculture value chain will ensure South Africa’s emerging farmers are able to develop in a sustainable manner to boost the country’s food security and contribute to job creation, writes Magda du Toit.

Most emerging farmers in South Africa still operate outside of the mainstream agricultural value chains, and are often unable to gain access to markets without support. Being part of a value chain is one of the critical pillars of sustainable farming, and without access to markets, farmers are almost certainly set up for failure.

Access to the agricultural value chain can make a huge contribution to creating an enabling environment where an emerging farmer can become part of the mainstream agriculture sector, Dr Mathews Phosa, chairperson of the Agricultural Development Agency (AGDA), said during the recent round table discussion on the implementation of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) held in Pretoria.

He added that access to markets could also create opportunities to fund the commercialisation of emerging farmers in a sustainable manner, while reducing the risk for all parties involved, investors included.

The AGDA was launched in 2020 and, according to Phosa, had been making major strides in supporting an inclusive farming sector in South Africa.

He said that agriculture had a major role to play in growing the economy and added that the sector had the ability to contribute to youth employment across the value chain.

“The new technologies available offer a platform for young people to become involved in the sector.

“We appreciate that not everyone is a farmer, but there are many other opportunities for hard-working young people to explore.

“Inclusiveness across the food value chain can contribute to household food security,” Phosa said.

He added that every accomplishment started with a decision that was successfully implemented. “Now we must act and implement our decisions and discussions.”

Phosa also pointed out that in order to drive and execute the AAMP, the AGDA and its partners needed to integrate, aggregate, facilitate and implement all the plans they make, adding that the AGDA was the “ideal vehicle” for achieving this.

Opening the round-table discussion, AGDA CEO Leona Archary said partnerships were the only way to implement the AAMP in South Africa.

She pointed out that the AGDA’s main goal was to coordinate partners and projects with the aim of empowering and developing black commercial farmers.

“Each partner has a role to play and together we can drive economic growth in the country to build South Africa to where it should be. Ideas must move into implementation and that is the purpose of today’s discussions,” Archary said.

EXPERTISE

Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza said in her address that the discussions could play a driving role in the implementation of the AAMP.

“Inclusive agriculture is possible and there are many examples [that are] testimony to this, but we need to build on those to implement the master plan and grow the country’s economy,” Didiza said. “Many people are passionate about agriculture and the majority of them can offer expertise based on vast experience.

“We must collectively ascertain what we have and jointly contribute with the view of growing the sector and the economy. Everyone’s contribution is needed.”

‘TECHNOLOGIES OFFER A PLATFORM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE SECTOR’

Kallie Schoeman, CEO of the Schoeman Group farming near Delmas in Mpumalanga and AGDA board member, pointed out five key aspects from the AAMP that needed implementation: transformation promotion, increased food security, enhanced competitiveness, inclusiveness in the agricultural value chain, and secure financing for farmers.

Schoeman discussed the role that commercial farmers could play to support the implementation of the AAMP through best-practice scalable models.

He said that the five points could be achieved through partnerships with commercial farmers.

“Government is good at making plans, but farmers are the ones who can implement them,” he added.

Schoeman said that there were many examples of projects where commercial farmers were involved and where they, to a great extent, carried the risk on behalf of emerging farmers.

Referring to the Zamukele Farmers’ Programme, Schoeman said farmers who were incorporated into the food value chain were on the first steps towards success.

The Zamukele project aimed to empower emerging dry bean farmers to become commercial farmers. The project identified and supported farmers by providing access to mentors, technical advice, certified seeds, fertilisers, chemicals and local and international markets.

“Farmers are provided with the seed and fertiliser at the start of the growing season and then they make payment for these inputs after the crop has been harvested. The project participants are effectively contract growers, as they know that whatever they harvest will be marketed to the Schoeman Group,” Schoeman explained.

“Love for the soil and a true passion for farming is important, but not enough. Farmers need someone with experience who can guide them through the pitfalls of the industry.”