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AFGRI’s human stories from across the continent
Posted by Daniel Makhura on 6 October 2017 9:30 AM SAST
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In Mpumalanga Solomon Masango now has a 617 ha farm and recently won Farmer of the Year with Grain SA
Humble beginnings meant that Salomon originally farmed on 50 ha but three years ago this started to change when he joined the AFGRI Harvest Time training and development programme. Here he garnered much-needed training in the form of in-class training, on-farm technical training with agronomists, personal development, as well as basic computer training. Monitoring and mentorship took the form of regular visits to the farm, assistance in managing accounts to ensure payments to input suppliers were made, as well as assistance with pre-season budgeting and spending. From the humble 50 ha, Solomon has developed into farming on just over 400 ha, made up of 140 ha of maize, 260 ha of soya beans and 20 ha of sugar beans. Yields have increased so that he is now able to produce between 6 to 9 tons per ha of maize and 1,5 to 3 tons per ha of soya beans and Solomon’s farm is run with equipment he was able to finance from the profits. The training, mentorship and development programme from AFGRI Harvest Time has helped Solomon learn the latest advanced techniques and by winning Farmer of the Year he walked away with a brand new tractor from John Deere, which will make his operation even more efficient.
Zambia, AFGRI’s Abba Horticulture Model at work
This project is based in western Zambia, 200 km from Livingstone with the closest town being Sesheke. The project aims for a process of total transformation in an extremely poor community. Over the past two years the area has been impacted by severe drought, with exceptionally low rainfall. Five farmers are part of the programme, each with an average of 2 ha used for the production of tomatoes, green maize, green peppers and cabbage. Each farm is provided with diesel pumps and a dripline irrigation system. Farmers are trained in farming techniques, provided with ideas on how to access markets and financial management and budgeting. They then in turn train farmers in the area in order to expand the “Good-Farming Practice” footprint and improve and impact more lives and the most unexpected consequence of AFGRI’s involvement is that these five subsistence farmers are creating approximately 1,000 part time jobs.
The measure of a successful project in a community in need is only once the entire community benefits. In the case of Abba Zambia the project feeds approximately 170 children every Sunday and distributes maize to local churches monthly for onward distribution to widows and orphans. In addition, a popular “work for food programme” has been launched that provides food for more than 50 casual workers every week.
In the Nkangala district of Mpumalanga yields are improving.
In this case, a farmer began farming in 2011 cultivating a mere 150 ha of maize. In 2012 he joined the AFGRI Harvest Time training and development programme. Through a mixture of training, monitoring and mentorship the business has grown to 640 ha, which comprises 300 ha of white maize, 300 ha of soya beans and 40 ha of sugar beans. Initial yields were 500kg per ha, but today yields are up at between 4 to 7 tons per ha of maize and soya and 1 to 2 tons per ha of sugar beans. The farmer improved his mechanisation with the purchase of a six-row planter and a harvester head for soya and maize, bought through access to the Harvest Time hire purchase funding model to help grow his farming operations further.
In Metsweding, Gauteng, Skhosana Dingazi is flourishing.
In the 2013/2014 season Harvest Time met Skhosana for the first time. Only 68 ha had been planted using a planter which was incorrectly calibrated creating large, inefficient gaps amongst the maize plants. This led to an infestation of weeds. The AFGRI Harvest Time training programme, which Skhosana embarked upon included farmer study groups, in-class training, basic computer training, and on-farm assistance by agronomists, which also ensured that confidence in his skills and ability, coupled with mentorship, was engrained. Finance provided through AFGRI Harvest Time ensured that he could purchase an additional 22 ha of land, bringing the total to 100 ha. Weed management is also under control, with an excellent crop on the land. Full repayment of the production loan has been made, and the next step is to plant 120 ha. This is made possible through the confidence to lease additional land as well as having a true partner where farming matters can be discussed and the best course of action implemented.
In Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng, with a little help from friends, a farming operation is thriving.
AFGRI’s Harvest Time initiative came across a farmer who was demotivated and found farming to be hard, as he had found that there was very little practical experience offered in the market place. Overall management of the farm was poor and as a result his 345 ha was overrun by weeds. He joined the AFGRI Harvest Time programme where a dedicated relationship was established between himself and Harvest Time, AFGRI mentors, and GeoAgro agronomists and where he now has access to training, finance and a helping hand. The farmer is now motivated and has exceeded all expectations, despite such a challenging agricultural year. A zest for life has seen overall management of the farm and staff improve, with a crop on the land, which is set to be exceptional.
A portion of the R90 million is invested in social development projects
Corporate social investment at AFGRI hinges on education, food and water security as well as poverty alleviation and across all projects impact assessment is continually measured. In six educational projects, more than 1,000 learners are assisted through mechanisms such as annual tuition fees, donations for schooling requirements from chairs to groceries and costs allocated to the Kimon programme. The impact of our involvement includes outstanding pass rates, increased attendance, freeing up time for teachers to focus on the curricula and environment which are safe and which have running water.
Six projects dedicated to food and water security have assisted learners, staff and have put trainers in place. Again measurable impacts include the provision of fresh vegetables to the community, income generation, personal pride, food security, job creation and security and access to fresh water.
In five projects aimed at poverty alleviation, 1,630 beneficiaries, consisting of children and community members, have been assisted. Positive measurable impacts have included access to a sustainable source of fresh vegetables, drinking water, and balanced nutrition for children and safe houses with comfortable and sufficient sleeping space.
