Water-stressed South Africa needs action

Press release

WWF welcomes the formal launch of the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan by Human Settlements, Sanitation and Water Minister Lindiwe Sisulu in Pretoria today as an important step towards more urgent action in the water sector.

Christine Colvin, Senior Manager: Freshwater Programmes with WWF-SA, commented: “This plan has been waiting in the wings for the last year, and now needs the urgent attention of government and partners to ensure the institutional and financial resources are available for immediate implementation.

“It highlights the urgent need to take action to secure South Africa’s water future, particularly in the light of the critical droughts being experienced in many parts of the country and further climate uncertainty.”

WWF also welcomes the frank acknowledgement by Minister Sisulu of the severe challenges facing the department. These include climate change; the slow pace of recent implementation which has left three million people without basic water services; a crippling bottle-neck at local government level; and, the need for competence building. 

A critical new approach in the Master Plan is the recognition of Water Source Areas and the commitment to promulgate restrictions to destructive activities which are compromising the integrity of these critical catchments. 

Colvin added, “We wholeheartedly support this along with the commitment to secure funds for restoration and the ongoing maintenance of ecological infrastructure. This will require bold new moves by government and more political muscle for the ministries of water and the environment, particularly in relation to mining.”

The Master Plan reiterates the department’s commitment to enabling the sustainable management of natural water resources and to increase the pace of delivery of water and sanitation services to all. The ambitious and far-reaching objectives of the plan are expected to require a significant step-up in resourcing, and the department itself urgently needs to reconfigure to deliver on the targets. 

“We call on government to prioritise the actions required to break our Water Crisis Cycle, and focus on delivering measure to combat the five choke points that threaten our current and future water security. These include climate change; land management – and the full roll-out of the Catchment Management Agencies with concurrent influence on land-use and planning; water allocation (in particular the validation and verification exercise); addressing pollution (with the need to upgrade our existing waste-water treatment works and to deal with acid mine drainage); and urban planning where cities should urgently reduce leaks and losses and reuse more water and accelerate the “brown revolution” of low-water sanitation.”

Among the ‘green shoots’ highlighted at the launch of the Master Plan included:

• World-leading water research, facilitated by the Water Research Commission, and the need to adopt more appropriate new technologies;
• The commitment to institution building and transformation, including giving effect to Catchment Management Agencies early in 2020; and,
• The need for effective partnerships, such as the one piloted by WWF-SA in the Umzimvubu headwaters of the Eastern Cape where communities are being supported to protect springs for sustainable water supplies. 

In particular, WWF is pleased that Minister Sisulu has undertaken to visit the Matatiele area of the Eastern Cape to view low-cost water alternatives for local communities as an alternative to the planned Umzimvubu Dam. 

Relevant pages in Agribook.Digital include "Water", "Wetlands" and "Invasive alien species".

De-risking agriculture, the financiers speak: Roundtable at Omnia House

Paul Makube (centre), senior agricultural economist at First National Bank South Africa

 The agronomists had spoken (see previous blog). The financiers were next ...

Paul Makube described how banks look at the farmer's handling of natural resources. Soil is certainly a part of this, and critical from both a profitability and risk perspective. Farmers may face uncertainties like seasonal changes and volatility in prices of both inputs and outputs, but soil health is the top factor as it determines the future sustainability of the farming business. Using benchmark- and data from their own lands, one can have discussions with farmers about the space they are in.

John Hudson (right), National Agriculture Head at Nedbank Business Banking

John Hudson began with a reference to agriculture's contribution to global carbon emissions and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The focus is thus on more responsible food production, food safety and traceability, clean energy, water efficiency - and soil health.

Soils underpin value chains by supporting crop productivity, biodiversity and livelihoods. And they play a crucial role in two of the top business risks: water and climate change. If we are to have sustainable businesses, economies and societies, they will be built on healthy soils. We have to get soils right!

In the pursuit of financial sustainability many farmers head towards conservation agriculture: soil health is very much a part of that. The increasing availability of climate-smart finance will assist in the transition from conventional agriculture to conservation agriculture. Previously, financiers would look at the farming business' past patterns, the economic track record. Increasingly we will look beyond this, at farming practices, the organic content of soil, the use of mulching and farming practices which reduce the water required by up to 90%. We need to reward good farming practice.

In time, carbon budgets and carbon taxes in South Africa will further incentivise climate-smart agriculture.

Zhann Meyer, Head of Agricultural Commodities Business, Nedbank

Zhann Meyer picked up where his Nedbank colleague had left off. Complimenting South African farmers for the way they have picked up on precision farming, no-till and other innovations, he said the rest of the world takes note of how our farmers do it! 

He referenced the UN's SDGs as the benchmark and measurement matrix to which Nedbank had aligned itself. Up until now, bankers judged farm productivity by looking at long-term average yields. But perhaps they should use the tools now becoming available to measure what farmers do to conserve the soil – to look at long-term sustainable average yield. In the light of soil being a finite and scarce resource, it would be "apt" for financial institutions to explore ways in which finance could contribute towards preserving the soil. Holding up colourful, simple material, Meyer also speculated on how to reach the millions of subsistence farmers with information on looking after soils.

Kevin Hoff, Partner and Head of Financial Services, BDO.

Kevin Hoff agreed that sustainable soil solutions could unlock financing and insurance prospects for farmers, but coupled this with wider financial risk management and awareness of hedging strategies to manage input/output price risks.

 A discussion followed around points raised by the presentations: the need for a longer-term engagement on encouraging the movement from conventional agriculture to conservation agriculture.

Was there a difference between the production value of the land vs the value of the land itself?

In addition to incentives like easier terms for further loans to soil health-compliant farmers, market pressure could also be used by big buyers to encourage any who were not paying sufficient attention to their soils. This could strengthen the use of good agricultural practice tools like the SUSFARMS system, a resource for sugarcane farmers designed by the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (Sasri) with highly useful checklists incorporating management, legal, financial and environmental guidelines for farmers.
There was agreement on the need to make information as simple as possible. The Omnia Soil Health Prism was held up again as an example. Soil could be likened to a machine or something with many moving parts. Tools which integrated data were needed to resolve issues and help decision-making.

The agronomists and financiers were given the opportunity to sum up their ideas after which Jan Vermaak brought proceedings to a close.

Relevant pages in AgribookDigital include "Conservation agriculture", "Precision farming", "Risk management" and the pages listed at the end of the previous blog.

De-risking agriculture, the agronomists speak: Roundtable at Omnia House

The boardroom fills up prior to the meeting

“This week is a better week to meet than last week”. Rain had fallen in several parts of the country, and it was a worthy reminder of how dependent South Africa’s agricultural value chain is on water.

Jan Vermaak, Managing Director of Omnia Fertilizer International, was opening the Omnia Group De-risking agriculture stakeholder roundtable. It was to be a discussion last Friday between leaders within the Omnia Group and leaders from financial institutions like FNB and Nedbank.

Jan Vermaak (centre)

A number of questions had been posed before the event: financing difficulties using land as primary source of security; bank frustrations when dealing with farmer profiling for finance (what is good, solid collateral?) Can soil health play a role in de-risking agriculture? Short presentations started the proceedings.

The farmer’s position is perhaps not appreciated by the average citizen. There are no subsidies on offer in the country, and relatively speaking, no help from a government which on one hand champions the role of agriculture to create jobs, earn foreign exchange and stabilise the country, but on the other treats commercial farmers as an enemy.

Negotiations have been in process for years for government help in insuring the industry against inclement weather. For now, insurance carries an enormous price tag, and the cost of functions like the country’s biosecurity is increasingly met by the private sector.

Seelan Gobalsamy (centre)

In some parts of the country rain has not fallen for five years! The entire risk on production is carried by the farmer. Input suppliers still earn money from the transaction with the farmer, but if the weather sabotages the crop, the loss falls entirely on the farmer (no refunds!) For this reason, a sentiment like that of Seelan Gobalsamy, CEO of Omnia Group, was called for: when farmers succeed sustainably, it is good business for input suppliers, but also for the country and the planet. Look after the people from whom you are making your money!

Vermaak's presentation an overview of the macro environment. Our population is growing but the amount of land remains the same, and most of it is semi-desert. The importance of managing this land correctly is highlighted by the country’s income inequality, which means food cost increases have “very real social impacts”. 

Yield boosts have flattened out. Applying too much nitrogen has meant lower returns as well as environmental damage. “Greener” products like biostimulants mean less fertiliser is used.  Other products improve plant resistance to drought, heat stress, cold stress or water saturation.

Jacques de Villiers

Precision farming, which prescribes the precise proportion of inputs for optimal yields, will feature several times over the course of the afternoon. It certainly was in the foreground of the next presentation, Jacques de Villiers, MD of Omnia Fertilizer SA. 

De Villiers' presentation centred the role of soil health and good farming practice in bringing relief to high risk profiling of farmers. Technology can indicate the status of a farmer’s soil and, working from this, the likelihood of a good crop can be predicted. Soil health has thus de-risked the farmer’s prospects, and so the producer who is in touch with the soils on the farm is a better position when it comes to negotiating finance and other inputs.

Venessa Moodley

Venessa Moodley, GM of the group's OmniBio business unit, is passionate about soils. They are the basis of life! They have to be the cornerstone of agriculture. 

Soil comprises nutrients; physical characteristics like texture and drainage; and biological components such as rhizosphere and root microbiome. These need to be balanced with biostimulants, humic acids, fulvic acids, seaweed extracts, microbes, amino acids, vitamins and fertilisers, in right combinations at right times. Read the soil, do the sums and enjoy increased profitability. 

People are aware of water scarcity? Good! But if the soils haven't been attended to you have runoff and you won't make the most of the water that is available.

Moodley champions the recently launched Omnia Soil Health Prism, a tool to analyse and make recommendations around the conditions of particular soils. Farmers who use this tool may not understand all the technicalities of soil, but they won't have to. The prism sharpens their focus and their questions, enabling them to arrive at soil interventions more timeously.

Relevant pages on AgribookDigital include "Soils", "Fertiliser" and "Speciality fertilisers".

Macadamias vital to development in emerging market

Press release (edited)
 
Married with the global trend to plant-based eating (for health, ethical and sustainability reasons), the high protein monounsaturated (good fat) macadamia is an industry whose time has come. Climatically, macadamias do well in similar conditions to sugar and tobacco, and whilst these industries are experiencing lacklustre performance, macadamias offer a robust, healthier for the planet and people alternative to farmers.
 

Leading macadamia marketer and exporter, Green & Gold Macadamias (G&G), is responsible for selling close to a fifth of the world’s crop. It has a perspective that is entirely unique and differentiated from other marketers, in that it holds the most extensive processor partner affiliations in key growing regions in both emerging and established markets around the globe. Producers and processors in African countries South Africa, Kenya and Malawi, together with Brazil and Australia form G&G’s network. 

The majority (65%) of available macadamia supply is produced in the African collective. This has significant economic and social benefits for South Africa, Kenya and Malawi especially. Africa is home to the lion’s share of the globe's arable land and macadamia plantings remain on the rise in these regions. Other regions experiencing strong growth include Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Swaziland.

“South Africa is the world’s leading producer of macadamia nuts, and through its macadamia exports, provides the country with valuable foreign exchange currency. This is significant for an emerging economy like ours. Encouraging infrastructure and other investment forms the building blocks for sustainable growth,” comments Allen Duncan, CEO Green Farms Nut Company (GFNC). 

GFNC values include inclusivity and building community engagement: it is financially invested in, and partnered with, initiatives that impact over 30 emerging farmers. The business also runs mentor workshops for new, small farmers into the market, together with offering other skills development opportunities. It has built a nursery school for the children of those who are part of the project. 
 

Kenya has led the way in negotiating and agreeing favourable trade agreements with key macadamia consumer markets and territories, setting a platform for the local industry to grow. 

Brazil is faced with having to adapt from its predominant agricultural output, sugar. In 2018 sugar burning became prohibited in Sao Paulo state (responsible for 60% of Brazil’s sugar, and ethanol production) following legislation set out in 2008; farmers had 10 years to comply. Other major sugar growing regions in Brazil are following suit. This presents untapped opportunity for the country in that macadamias offer a viable alternative: orchard plantings can take place in existing agricultural hubs and not through encroaching on the surrounding natural environment. 

“Cane growing region, San Paolo, alone has 5.1 million hectares planted to sugar. With, by comparison, around 7 500 hectares planted to macadamias in the whole country (over 50% of which are in San Paolo state). The current macro context of Brazil’s agricultural industry is serendipitous in its timing to growing the macadamia industry at large. This comes with unparalleled scope for socio and economic upliftment too,” shares Maria Teresa Camargo, President, Queen Nut. Queen Nut is Brazil’s leading processor of macadamia nuts.

It appears these social benefits are already in play, in a big way. It is perhaps Green & Gold’s largest producer partner of macadamias in Africa (and top 5 in the world), Maclands, that best embodies this. This pan-African business has orchards and processing plants in Kenya, Malawi and South Africa, and creates 5 213 jobs through their operations in these regions.

“Maclands is deeply committed and invested beyond the obvious benefits of creating employment opportunities (in countries with significantly high unemployment rates). Our ethos is about long-termism and sustainability. For all our stakeholders, not just shareholders, but customers, suppliers and importantly our employees too. We care about our people experiencing a rewarding existence when employed by the business and want to leave a legacy that local communities are proud of,” says Chris Flowers, Regional Director, Maclands. 

It understands intrinsically that the business needs to exist in harmony with the community in which it operates, since it is the community that gives them license to do business in that region. This is demonstrated through best in class initiatives, building houses for staff with running water, and opportunities to create vegetable gardens. Within the villages, children of employees have access to schooling, and medical care and clinics are available to staff and their dependants till they’re 18. 

The organisation is rooted in creating a healthy agricultural environment supported by key infrastructure developments like building dams, and in Malawi specifically a project that focuses on reducing deforestation of indigenous bush. 

Queen Nut’s social programmes stretch far and wide from basic human rights initiatives to those that encourage cultural growth and participation. Many of which focus on women, and include:  

• Athlete of the Future Project that aims to encourage low income children and adolescents to develop an interest in sport.
• Proerd Project, in partnerships with the military police, which is a drug resistance and violence education programme.
• Adolescent Apprentice Project is a project around career preparedness through life skills training and exposure.
• Apae Pilot Project is a professional kitchen that teaches children and teens with special needs to make cake and salty pastries to help strengthen motor co-ordination.
• Child Friendly Company Project that acts against child labour and promotes vocational training and access to protected employment for adolescents.
• The Macadamia Festival is a cultural extravaganza to promote tourism, together with raising the profile and opportunity of the macadamia sector.

It too has a strong focus on employees through rigorous safety training programmes and access to medical, gynaecological and detail assistance. Study and career advancement opportunities are also facilitated. Queen Nut’s environmental awareness policy includes recycling, energy saving and driving water efficiencies. 

“G&G is extremely proud to be partnered with business like GFNC, Maclands and Queen Nut. All of whom pave the way, and enable, opportunity to sustainable economic upliftment and growth. Particularly in rural areas, which are often most vulnerable to cultural and value system fragmentation,” concludes Brian Loader, CEO, G&G.

Find the AgribookDigital page on Macadamia nuts at https://agribook.co.za/horticulture/macadamia-nuts/

SAB/Ab Inbev Africa Urban Agriculture programme finalists: part 3

Part 3 of looking at the  SAB/Ab Inbev Africa Urban Agriculture programme finalists.



Siphamandla Bilitane

Crispy Crop Pty (Ltd), Vredendal, Western Cape

In 2015, Siphamandla Bilitane started Crispy Crop, where he farms butternuts, watermelons, and tomatoes. His farm is 20 hectares in size.

Siphamandla and his team start their planting season on the 1st of July every year. “Butternut, watermelon, and tomatoes are planted for the local Cape Town Market and for Tiger Brands, tomatoes are planted in the first week of October and harvested in January.”

“I became a farmer to improve my livelihood and that of my family, and to create jobs and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product.”

Siphamandla currently employs two staff members.

Farming is not only Bilitane’s passion, but also his lifestyle. “The most important aspect of farming is the contribution I make to food security and creating jobs and opportunities for others.”

Siphamandla has not come across any stereotypes about being a farmer, but many see him being successful one day due to him being a responsible and hard-working person.

Siphamandla is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, and hopes to improve his business skills. “I would like to gain access to larger markets to grow my business and essentially create more jobs.”

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment.

The 15-month business development programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.


Nkanyiso Ngubane

Dukathole Youth Farm Pty (Ltd), New Hanover, KwaZulu-Natal

In 2014, Nkanyiso Ngubane with her partner Nothando Shangase and others started Dukathole Youth Farm, where they cultivate vegetables such as cucumbers, baby marrows, cauliflower, and green beans. The Dukathole farm is five hectares, but only two hectares of that is arable land.

Dukathole Youth Farm has 10 hydroponic tunnels, which are used to plant cucumbers and baby marrows. “We are forced to plant only during the summer since we experience heavy frost during winter and we get better yield results in summer. Nkanyiso and her team start planting in mid-August every year and start harvesting late in October.

“For the open field, we plant cauliflower in March and green beans in October. For land preparation, we are lucky to receive assistance from neighbouring farmers.”

As a daily routine, tanks need to be filled with water, fertilizer needs to be mixed and the nutrients need to be balanced by getting the E.C and pH right, and water drippers are checked for blockages.

Dukathole Youth Farm currently has five employees.

“It made sense for me to become a farmer and be self-employed rather than waiting for employment to come my way, especially when South Africa has such a high unemployment rate. I can also put my degree in Agriculture to use when it comes to the business aspect.”

Nothando enjoys the scientific journey of observing a seed turn into a plant and then into a meal to feed a family and that in turn transforms into a fortune.

“Many people seem to believe that running a farm means that making a lot of money and is the easiest business to run. They forget about the science of the industry like balancing the nutrients, providing sufficient irrigation etc. They seem to have an idea that with land I have it all. They do not consider the daily challenges and risks that come with running a farm.

Nkanyiso is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, and looks forward to “learning about production maximization and how to improve their hydroponic tunnel production procedures.”

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment and sustainable businesses.

The 15-month Business Development Programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.



Welile Gumede

Azowel Projects, KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal

 Welile Gumede started Azowel Projects in 2018, where she grows tomatoes and cabbages. The farm is eight hectares in size.

“We plant tomatoes in tunnels and cabbage on the open field. Our daily operations consist of weeding, irrigating, pruning, harvesting, packaging, and delivery of produce to Enterprise iLembe, which is currently our biggest market.”

Welile saw a neglected farming space and decided to make use of it by creating work for herself and others in the community. “I love market availability and food security.”

Due to Welile not having any farming experience, many people thought that she would not be able to revive a farm.

Welile is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, and hopes to become a better farmer and learn from other, more experienced farmers.

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment and sustainable businesses.

The 15-month Business Development Programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.

With thanks to SAB KickStart and Corporate Image for materials and photographs.

Urban agriculture is part of "The Urban Question" page on Agribook.Digital.

SAB/Ab Inbev Africa Urban Agriculture programme finalists: part 2

We are looking at the finalists of the SAB/Ab Inbev Africa Urban Agriculture programme.

Rinae Tshikangavhadzi

TC Woman in action farming (Pty) Ltd, Tarlton, Gauteng

Rinae Tshikangavhadzi started TC Woman in action farming in 2009, an urban farm where he grows vegetables such as beans, spinach, kale, cucumber, cauliflower, and broccoli. His farm is 17 hectares in size.

Rinae prefers to plant in summer and harvest during winter. “We also do crop rotation where we rotate the green beans and spinach.”

Rinae currently employs eight employees.

“I was lucky enough to get a piece of land and decided to start farming.” Rinae feels that he contributes to food security. “What I love most about farming is that it allows me to produce good food for others to consume.”

People often assume that Rinae is very wealthy. “People think that I am rich and others feel that I chose the wrong career.”

Rinae is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, and hopes to become a commercial farmer.

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment.

The 15-month business development programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.


Vutlhari Chauke

VT Harvest (Pty) Ltd, Tarlton, Gauteng

Vutlhari Chauke established VT Harvest in 2017, an urban farm where she grows herbs such as baby fennel, coriander, curly parsley, Italian parsley, rocket and wild rocket, and kohlrabi, a German turnip.

Vutlhari’s farm has 13 greenhouse tunnels equipped with dripper and overhead sprinkler irrigation systems. “We plant between 10,000 and 15,000 seedlings per tunnel depending on the type of crop.”

Vutlhari’s herb production cycle is from four to six weeks in summer; and six to eight weeks in winter. “Our production plan is prepared six months in advance to effectively factor crop rotation and seedling preparation. The production team is responsible for soil preparation, planting, weeding, irrigation, and harvesting.”

VT Harvest checks for pests twice a week and sprays crop protection chemicals when required on Fridays. They pick fresh herbs by hand on a daily basis and select only the top-quality produce for delivery to customers from Mondays to Fridays. 

Vutlhari currently has two permanent employees and eight part-timers.

She initially became a farmer to make money, but later realised that agriculture created employment and contributed to food security. “My goal is to become a black female farmer success story, where my brand is respected in the industry. I would like to leave a legacy for my children.”

“Being able to consistently nurture seedlings, witness them grow into nutritious crisp produce, which end up on the shelves of retail stores makes me proud to be a farmer, because we are enhances culinary experiences of our communities.”

“I left a Sandton corporate job at one of the Top 10 JSE Listed companies for farming. I traded high heels for gumboots and this was considered a regression, almost a downgrade in my career. Some people told me that I had wasted my investment in my MBA studies, however I vehemently disagree, because farming has allowed me to test some of the theories in a real-life context and use the financial and stakeholder management modules to optimally run my operations and grow the business.”

Vutlhari is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme and hopes the programme will add value to her business through infrastructure assistance to expand her operations so that she can enter the agro-processing and exports spaces.

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment.

The 15-month business development programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.


Katlego Meso

Katlego Malesa Farming T/A and Katlego Meso Farming Industries (Pty) Ltd, Tarlton, Gauteng

Katlego Meso started Katlego Malesa Farming in 2009, where he grows red cabbages, celery, peppers, and broccoli. The farm is 24 hectares in size, with 18 hectares being arable land.

“We plant 20,000 seedlings every two weeks until the targeting area of land is covered. Crop care is important since we farm on an open field. We supply produce to the Johannesburg Market.”

Katlego currently has eight employees, four of whom are permanent.

Katlego became a farmer because he enjoys feeling like he has accomplished a noble deed. “I love the freedom of doing what I love. Farming can create jobs and alleviate poverty.”

Katlego is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, and hopes to gain better insight of the business, farming skills and market access.

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment and sustainable businesses.

The 15-month Business Development Programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.


With thanks to SAB KickStart and Corporate Image for materials and photographs.

Urban agriculture is part of "The Urban Question" page on Agribook.Digital.

 

SAB/Ab Inbev Africa Urban Agriculture programme finalists: part 1

With Stats SA in October revealing that unemployment was at its highest level in 11 years, a programme like the SAB/Ab Inbev Africa Urban Agriculture programme which aims to help create jobs through youth owned farms, is to be welcomed. Last week saw the nine finalists in the Programme announced. We decided to look at the contenders.


Amanda Mpabanga
Mabogo Dinku Agricultural Co-operative Brits, North West

In 2018, Amanda Mpabanga became part of Mabogo Dinku Agricultural Cooperative, an urban farm where she grows vegetables such as spinach, beetroot, spring onions, and green beans. Amanda’s farm is 37.2 hectares, but 26.9 hectares of that is arable land.

Mabogo Dinku Agricultural Cooperative currently has six tunnels with a size of 250 square meters each. “We supply spinach and spring onion to FoodLovers in Greenstone and only spring onion to Pick n Pay in Brits.”

Amanda believes in Sustainable Development. “I have always been a vegetable gardener, but in a very limited space. I then decided to become a farmer to supply my family and others with fresh vegetables and make a living out of it as well.”

Amanda currently employs seven people and hopes to employ more as the business grows.

“I love the process of growing food from seed to consumable product. The science of seed sprouting, germinating and becoming a product to be consumed is what excites me about urban farming.”

“People believe that I am rich, which is one of the stereotypes about being a farmer. This is not the case, as the business has expenses to be paid on a regular basis.” Also, people think that being a farmer means wearing overalls and gumboots. “I often get people asking me “You a farmer?” when I introduce myself because I look different to what they think farmers are supposed to look like.”

Amanda is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, where she hopes to learn how to be consistent in supplying good quality produce and to build a strong rapport with her customers.

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment.

The 15-month business development programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.


Lungi Robela

Robela Farm (Pty) Ltd, Magaliesburg, Gauteng

Lungi Robela started Robela Farm in 2009 and cultivates vegetables such as lettuce and broccoli in winter, and cucumbers, tomatoes, and sweet peppers in summer. Her farm is 17.123 hectares and has 32 greenhouse tunnels and an open field for farming throughout the year.

Some of Lungi’s staff each have five tunnels to take care of. “Staff with tunnels need to remove any weeds, side shoots, and make sure the water drippers are functional on a daily basis”. Those without any tunnels have other duties. “Spraying duties, water and fertiliser applications and weighing/counting the crates during the harvest period,”

Lungi’s family had a small farm and she enjoyed feeding the animals and planting seeds, but did not enjoy her corporate job in the hospitality industry. “I decided to try out the agricultural industry full time with the support of my mother and I have no regrets.” As much as Lungi adores planting seeds and seeing them grow into a fruit or vegetable, she is also responsible for the entire operation. “I like tackling challenges head on and making sure the business stays afloat.”

Lungi currently employs 13 permanent and six seasonal workers.

Being a farmer has led to Lungi dealing with receiving a few stereotypes such as: “People assume that farmers are uneducated or live in total exclusion from modern life.” Another misconception people have of Lungi is that she is always dirty, because farmers work with dirt.

Lungi is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, where she hopes to learn about the benefits and functionality of hydroponic systems, more about greenhouses, and would like to expand her knowledge about agriculture.

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment.

The 15-month business development programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.


Khutso Njenga

TechFarma (Pty) Ltd, Soshanguve, Pretoria

Khutso Njenga became part of TechFarma in 2018, where he produces cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes in greenhouse tunnels. His farm is 24 hectares in size.

Khutso cultivates his produce using the hydroponic system – a method used to grow vegetables in a water based, nutrient rich solution. “Each tunnel is 300 square meters and has approximately 700 plants.”

A daily task for Khutso is to check the water for pH levels and plants for insects. “We check our water daily to make sure that our electrical conductivity (EC) and pH (potential of Hydrogen) levels are correct.”

On Wednesdays, Khutso and his team harvest 3,750 cucumbers and delivers them to the Fresh Produce Market in Tshwane.

“I became a farmer to create jobs for others, and to make sure people have access to fresh, nutritious, and affordable vegetables. This is also what I love about farming as I get to wake up every day and know that I produced good food for others.”

Khutso currently employs four permanent and two part-time staff.

One stereotype Khutso has come across is that “people assume that farming or to be a farmer is easy”.

Khutso is part of the 2019 SAB Urban Agriculture Programme, and hopes to gain an understanding of how to access the corporate market.

Now in its second year, the Urban Agriculture Programme invests in high potential farming businesses, by integrating technology solutions that will grow the businesses and create lasting employment.

The 15-month business development programme provides participants with technical and operational training, hydroponic infrastructure investment, industry-based mentorship, as well as market access.

With thanks to SAB KickStart and Corporate Image for materials and photographs.

Urban agriculture is part of "The Urban Question" page on Agribook.Digital.

Khoi and San to share in benefits of rooibos

There has been a sea change in the Rooibos industry, following the signing of an Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) agreement between the Rooibos Industry, represented by the SA Rooibos Council (SARC) and the Khoi-Khoi and San, represented by the National Khoi-San Council (NKC) and the South African San Council (SASC). This agreement will see the Khoi-Khoi and San communities benefit from the commercialisation of Rooibos.

Today, a special ceremony to mark the historic occasion was held in !Khwa ttu, close to Cape Town, with representatives from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), the Rooibos industry and Khoi and San Councils in attendance.

SARC chairperson, Martin Bergh says the protection and preservation of the Rooibos industry and its people remain critical to the SA Rooibos Council.

“The industry recognises that the Khoi-Khoi and San people had knowledge of the Rooibos plant and that including them as beneficiaries in this agreement, is the right thing to do.”

The NKC and SASC also welcomes the move which they say will contribute a great deal to the development and empowerment of the Khoi-Khoi and San communities they represent.

As a signatory to the Nagoya Protocol, South Africa requires industries that trade in indigenous biological resources, such as Rooibos, to share benefits with traditional knowledge holders in a fair and equitable way.

When the DEFF first recognised the Khoi-Khoi and San people as the rightful traditional knowledge holders of Rooibos, a Working Group, which included the SARC, NKC and SASC was formed to negotiate on benefit sharing in accordance with the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA).

After four years of negotiations, an agreement was reached, which included a benefit-sharing levy at 1.5% of the farm gate price of Rooibos, effective from 1 January 2019. In rand terms this currently equates to an estimated R9-million per annum, but may differ year-on-year based on the price and volumes of Rooibos traded.

How the benefit-sharing levy will be used, will be independently decided by the National Khoi-San Council and South African San Council, but it is primarily intended for the upliftment of the Khoi-Khoi and San communities. An annual report, detailing the distribution of funds, will be submitted to the DEFF to ensure complete transparency. 

Bergh has hailed the agreement as a best practice example, which provides a robust framework for other bioprospecting, access and benefit-sharing agreements in SA and abroad.

“It’s the first agreement of its kind in the world – both in terms of the interpretation and application of the Nagoya Protocol. Previous ABS agreements involved specific companies and traditional knowledge holders, whereas the Rooibos agreement encompasses the entire industry, ensuring all volumes of Rooibos sold will be levied through one process.”

The accord is regarded as an important milestone in the history of global governance for the preservation of genetic biodiversity, associated traditional knowledge and poverty relief.

The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy also described the signing as a landmark moment.

“Today’s celebration is also an observance of the correction of a past injustice – a wrong that is being righted. The successful completion of this negotiation, and the implementation of this agreement is a very good story for all of us to tell considering that Rooibos is an existing industry with prospects for transformation, where small players in the value chain have the potential to become big players in a global industry.”  

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