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DAFF and Tiger Brands sign agreement to support Smallholder farmers
Posted by Daniel Makhura on 11 May 2017 8:45 AM SAST
Small holder farmers are getting assistance from Tiger Brands
Tiger Brands pronounced its intention to collaborate with DAFF on a common purpose of supporting the smallholder sector. This collaboration coincides well with the approved Agriculture Policy Action Plan (APAP). APAP seeks to promote labour absorption and expand market sharing through coordinated strategic interventions that target increased value-chain efficiencies and competitiveness. Tiger Brands on the other hand, through its Agricultural Commodities Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) intends to contract producers and offer guaranteed off-take agreements on sunflower and maize amongst other crops.
DAFF is committed to the growth and development of all producer categories, which are subsistence, smallholder and commercial. In its endeavour to broaden participation within the sector, DAFF has entered into a partnership with Tiger Brands. The intent of this partnership is premised on the three DAFF priorities and key intervention areas which are food security, job creation and contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To this end DAFF has entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tiger Brands to ensure the success and growth of the sector. The purpose of the MOU is to achieve the various aims and objectives relating to the strategic development projects focusing on Enterprise Development within agriculture including amongst others, Sunflower, Maize (glucose), Non GM (Genetically Modified) Maize, Non GM Soya; Ground Nuts; Beans; Sorghum; Tomatoes; Peanuts; Peaches and Apricots.
Tiger Brands is currently procuring at least 1.9 million tons of agricultural commodities and fresh produce annually and 63% of this requirement is sourced locally. Interestingly, Tiger Brands further targets to promote Rural Farming Enterprises which promote sustainable sunflower and maize farming on tribal arable land by local communities. A collaboration of this nature will ensure that both the current and future interventions by DAFF and Tiger Brands become resilient whilst remaining sustainable.
This DAFF/Tiger Brands partnership presents itself at the right time as DAFF is in the process of increasing production through the Fetsa Tlala Food Production Initiative. This Initiative is aimed at increasing food accessibility, affordability and availability by putting 1 million hectares of underutilized land under production by the 2018/19 production season. Amongst the commodities targeted for the Fetsa Tlala Food Production Initiative are maize, beans and potatoes. DAFF is in need of lasting partnerships towards fulfilling its priority to increase the number of individuals that are food secure, especially in light of the 2014 General Household Survey that was released in May.
The issues of food security and sustainability are critical; couple to this our growing population and you have the makings of a perfect storm. With this in mind, We have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Forests and Fisheries (DAFF) to empower the small holder farmers to supply their crops to Tiger Brands. We recently met with Roderick Sorrell | Category Procurement Manager, about the MOU as well as what the programme means for small holder farmers and Tiger Brands as a whole.
