Emerging Farmer Initiative

Emerging

Farmer Initiative

South Africa has approximately 30,000 commercial farmers and over 1,000,000 emerging and subsistence farmers.  This latter category is under-serviced by the large industry players and these farmers are left largely to fend for themselves in a highly complex and challenging industry.  National Government, Provincial and Local authorities are seeking support from the industry to better service the emerging farmer market.

AECI Plant Health has a programme in place, working jointly with other industry players, in order to equip these farmers with skills for sustainable farming and develop this market segment to its full potential. This programme includes:

  • training on products – agrochemicals and nutrition products (proper use and safety)
  • crop specific programs including, seed, chemical and nutrition
  • mechanization options and consolidation to achieve critical mass
  • in-field technical support and mentoring
  • setting up market offtake agreements
  • growing tunnel packages to supplement household income.

Our partners in this programme include:

  • Seeds
    • Potato SA
    • McCain South Africa
    • Grain SA
  • Equipment suppliers
    • Massey Ferguson
    • John Deer
    • New Holland
  • Market off-take agreements
    •  McCain South Africa
    •  Natures Gardens
    •  Simba
    • Tiger Brands
    • Green Greens
    • AFGRI
  • Training
    • Buhle Training Academy  

Projects in progress include:

  • Two a Day (Paarl)
  • Witzenberg PALS (Ceres)
  • McLachlan School (Langkloof)
  • AgriDwala (Napier)
  • Ndumo A, Agricare (Jozini)
  • Buhle Training Academy (Delmas)