Opening doors for subsistence, small-scale farmers

With an aim to establishing a pipeline of future finance-ready farmers,

Agri Seed Capital was calling on smallholder farmers to apply for their three-year incubation programme.

Agri Seed Capital is a micro-finance institution that exists to address the problem of financial inclusion affecting subsistence and small-scale farmers.

According to Agri Seed, many farmers find it difficult to access production credit, technical advisory, and business support services such as accounting, records management and business planning.

“Motivated to close this gap, the organisation has created an incubation programme that aims to provide business support to small-scale producers to a point where they can graduate and access mainstream finance from commercial banks and development finance institutions,” said the organisation. As part of its services, Agri Seed offers small-scale farmers access to markets, bookkeeping services, business plans, credit facilities, risk mitigation strategies and a technical advisory.

To qualify for the programme, you must be farming on a full-time basis, have access to land with a minimum of two years’ production experience.

The initiative is for agriculture, forestry and fishing, post-harvest technologies, animal health nutrition, agri-processing and agribusiness and agbio.

UPLIFT AND EMPOWER

Agri Seed Capital is spearheaded by a dynamic team driven by a passion for devising and implementing innovative solutions that uplift and empower the under-served farming community. Established by professionals with expertise in agriculture, finance, risk and business management, the team’s mission and mandate is to set the standard for quality financial and business services for small-scale farmers in Southern Africa, Agri Seed said.

“We believe in the power of smallscale agriculture to collectively solve problems of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. The world’s population and food demands are expected to double by 2050, therefore, the role of small-scale producers and subsistence farmers in national and household food security is increasingly critical.

“We are excited about this future and are looking to integrate these powerful farmer role players into mainstream financing.”

Youth farmers are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit agriseedcapital.co.za. – Jyothi Laldas