08 November 2023
By: Lebogang Mashala
FarmSol, an agricultural services company, has provided production inputs to about 50 smallholder farmers in Bergville and neighbouring villages in the Okhahlamba Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. These inputs include maize seed, fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, and were delivered to the farmers on November 3.
Through its household food security programme, FarmSol enabled the farmers to plant 200 hectares in Bergville and surrounds.
FarmSol, an implementing partner of South African Breweries, aims to develop sustainable solutions that connect customers in the food and beverage sector with emerging farmers as their raw material suppliers.
Zamakwakhe Khoza, chairperson of Okahlamba Mixed Farmers Umbrella, said the organisation was formed in August to support smallholder farmers in their quest for top-quality inputs such as seed, fertiliser, herbicides and pesticides that can help them improve yields.
Many farmers in the area cultivate maize, soybeans and dry or sugar beans on plots ranging from 1ha to 10ha. “Despite working on small plots, the farmers are dedicated and have contributed at least 50% of the input costs, while FarmSol has subsidised the remaining 50%,” he said.
Khoza said it costs about R9 000 to plant 1ha of grains, which means farmers paid R4 500 per hectare for the inputs.
Barry Nel, a mentor at FarmSol, said in collaboration with South African Breweries the company has supported more than 400 smallholder farmers by providing mentorship and input subsidies to help them move from subsistence to abundance production.
“The project was first launched in the Eastern Cape about two years ago. However, it will now be extended to all nine provinces,” he said.
Through Ukhanyo Farmer Development, FarmSol has also supported more than 2 000 farmers working 3 000ha in five Eastern Cape districts: OR Tambo, Chris Hani, Amathole, Joe Gqabi and Alfred Nzo.
Nel said farmers who want to participate in the project need to demonstrate commitment by paying at least half of their production costs. “We will then subsidise the other half through a grant. Unlike our other projects, in this one farmers will receive grants instead of production loans from FarmSol,” he said.
According to Nel, favourable rainfall in the area means good yields are expected from the inputs provided, with anticipated production of between five and eight tons per hectare.
“This should enable many farmers to produce more than they need for household consumption, allowing them to sell the surplus for additional income. We hope this will empower them to continue producing optimally,” he said.
Khoza said farmers struggle with quality inputs, which lead to low yields and poor returns. “We are grateful to FarmSol for their support and hope their intervention will help us increase our yields and generate a profit,” he said.
FarmSol understood the challenges they face and ensured the inputs were delivered in time for planting season, said Khoza. “We are scheduled to begin planting around November 15, and thanks to the timely delivery of inputs we will be able to do so. This is a stark contrast to government interventions, where inputs are often delivered late and we sometimes receive them as late as January or February.”
