Tribalist

AFGRI FOCUS ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION

Posted by Daniel Makhura on 6 October 2017 9:20 AM SAST

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“AFGRI has embarked on an immensely successful training and mentorship programme for emerging farmers in South Africa and across the continent in support of our dedication to agricultural sector development and transformation,” says Chris Venter, the CEO of AFGRI.

Venter explains that in February 2014 AFGRI entered into an agreement with the Economic Development Department, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in terms of which AFGRI pledged R90 million over a period of four years to the development of emerging farmers, as well as towards other projects targeted at community and rural development. Halfway through the implementation of the agreement, a total of about R35 million has been channelled through to the initiatives, with an overwhelmingly positive response from the farmers, communities and government departments involved.

“These are not only economic success stories for our emerging farmers, but for the thousands of lives meaningfully improved in their communities,” Venter went on to say. “Everything we do in our initiative, aptly named Harvest Time, is measured and monitored.  The input we provide through training and especially the mentorship programme is what sets us apart.” He explains that AFGRI has nine decades of experience combined with up-to-date services, which assists emerging farmers immensely. Not only does AFGRI provide access to finance, which is a challenge for emerging farmers, but state-of-the-art solutions such as precision farming technology with agronomist input provided through a joint venture with GeoAgro, a leading provider of satellite-based data and analysis. Technology-linked offerings such as these are vital for farming in the 21st century, as they vastly improve crops, save money, add to efficiencies and ultimately lead to improved yields.

“The cycle is self-fulfilling in that the emerging farmer is able, with guidance from AFGRI, to access markets, store grain, sell produce in an active market, repay working capital loans and then most importantly, retain and invest the profits. The training and mentorship component is invaluable as this provides input from experts to guide, train, listen to and engage with the farmer – often this type of encouragement and support is the most valuable as it feels like a true partnership,” said Venter. AFGRI is involved in initiatives which take emerging farmers out of poverty and a subsistence existence, to a situation where they are able to feed themselves, produce enough to sell and to advance from small-scale farming to create medium-sized enterprises.

“Increasing profitability ensures that our emerging farmers will become successful commercial farmers, actively contributing to food security in our country. It is our ambition that these farmers will grow to a size where they will even be able to export and thus secure food for the continent,” added Venter.  With this comes the ability to increase land planted, either by leasing or buying the land. “We have one emerging farmer who began by planting 120 ha, increasing this to 236 ha, then 540 ha and the goal for the coming season is to plant 1,000 ha. Although still small relative to commercial farmers, this is an example of how small farmers take the otherwise insurmountable steps to become larger successful farmers,” he said.

“Harvest Time is also involved in a micro-farmer programme which in the past two years trained over 250 micro-farmers, resulting in the establishment of several community vegetable gardens, which provide sustainable food and livelihoods in their communities,” says Marion Shikwinya, Managing director Harvest Time.

AFGRI’s support to the agricultural sector does not stop there. Over the past six months, the company has spent at least R20 million on several drought relief initiatives in South Africa. This included the donation of animal feeds, capping storage rates, as well as assisting in the provision of some animal feed products at discounted prices. “At AFGRI our relationships with clients are for life.  This means that when times are tough, we need to stand side-by-side,” says Wilkerson.

Vaughn McTaggart, AFGRI’s Head of Agricultural Development Services (“ADS”), explains “ADS is an AFGRI initiative active in Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, where a father figure (“Abba”) is found within a community to assist in unlocking the potential of small-scale farmers to fully explore their ability to ensure efficient land usage. With investment from AFGRI the results have been astounding. “Africa is a fertile continent – all we need to assist with is the tools to make it work and we believe that we can help by being an enabler to food security.” Once again the benefits of time, money, expertise and guidance is immense and social upliftment a key benefit of the programme.

The main aim of the programme is to take small-scale farmers, currently subsistence farming, and build them into semi-commercial farmers through daily assistance and guidance. This guidance, coupled with stewardship of money and life skills, ensures that the project has the potential for expansion as local product demand is currently much higher than production levels.

“Our Zambian Abba Horticultural Project is key to poverty alleviation and transformation and has been acknowledged by the President of the country, as well as the well-known Royal Barotse establishment. These are accreditations that we are proud of as they are touching the hearts of the people and ensuring food and sustainable livelihoods are maintained,” explained Venter. Not only has acclaim been forthcoming, but the farmers recently learnt that their products will be sold across the border in Namibia in the town of Katima Mulilo, through a local South African retailer.

In Uganda the Abba Mechanisation Circle provides farmers with access to mechanisation, which is purchased by AFGRI and made available to them through a rental arrangement. The provision of mechanisation, which is often used in a co-operative-type setting, makes a significant impact on yields and time, allowing the farmers to diversify and also limits risk. Once harvesting takes place ADS assists further by providing storage facilities so that the aggregation of the crop means that larger quantities of grain can be sold into the market.

In Zimbabwe the Abba Training College follows the principles of allocating 1 ha (of land under irrigation) to one student, with a two to three-year training programme in place. Students grow butternut, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cabbage and maize. Proceeds from the sale of produce allows for the students to be trained, as well as to be accommodated at no cost. Young upcoming farmers are also engaged to assist in the development of the African market environment for smallholder farmers through AFGRI’s larger agricultural models. “The initiative is a sustainable model, and can be replicated anywhere in Africa,” said Venter.

“The consistent theme throughout these initiatives is AFGRI’s commitment to foster a strong, vibrant and successful agricultural economy on the continent.  This is a sector through which we can make a meaningful contribution to the lives of those with which we partner and to which the benefit of food security flows,” noted Wilkerson. He explained that no matter which country or market AFGRI is involved, the company strives to develop and care for its customers. This comes in the form of imparting knowledge gained from its nine decades in business, as well as from financial support, mentorship, agricultural services or the provision of agricultural equipment and inputs.  Wilkerson concluded, “AFGRI’s success will only be found in the long-term prosperity of our farmers, to whom we remain dedicated in both ‘lean and fat years’”.