27 February 2024
By: Lebogang Mashala
Farmers who are part of the FarmSol development programme in Taung, North West, are looking forward to a successful harvest thanks to the partnership between FarmSol and the South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (Sacta).
Through the partnership, the project received a new harvester funded by Sacta, and the farmers say it will enhance yields and minimise losses. The arrival of the harvester coincided with the first anniversary of the handover of machinery and equipment worth R8 million by FarmSol and South African Breweries last year.
At the event, which also showcased the progress made by farmers since the initial investment, Aron Kole, managing director of FarmSol, said providing farmers with access to machinery can increase their productivity and efficiency.
This initiative is part of FarmSol’s efforts to eliminate barriers that prevent new-era farmers from accessing the latest technologies. Making machinery available to them is part of an effort to restore hope and dignity to people who have access to land but have been unable to use it, he said.
Kole said that with the donations of equipment and machinery, the farmers – who have since formed Tshwaragano Farmers Cooperative –planted 1,500 hectares of barley and soybeans. “Driven by their dreams and passion, they have demonstrated exceptional commitment, prompting Sacta to offer increased support through a harvester,” explained Kole.
He pointed out that the harvester’s arrival is perfectly timed, just before harvesting season. “One of the main challenges we’ve encountered is the harvesting contractor’s delayed arrival to the project, by which time the soybeans have already shattered and a large portion of the yield is lost. Now they can finally start harvesting without delay, which will have a significant impact on the yield,” said Kole.
According to Sipho Sibinda, Tshwaragano’s chairperson, the initial stages of the project were challenging as they faced difficulties in finding suitable agricultural equipment contractors. He said the intervention from FarmSol and Sacta will greatly improve their lives.
“We are grateful to Sacta for placing their trust in us and purchasing a harvester. Our commitment is to repay this investment and acquire another one,” said Sibinda.
Andrew Bennett, CEO of Sacta, said his organisation was motivated by Tshwaragano’s commitment. Sacta manages breeding levies for self-pollinated grain and oilseed crops, including wheat, barley, soybeans and some canola cultivars. A portion of the funds collected from these levies is used for development purposes.
“As an entity, we must ensure that the funds designated for development are used appropriately and generate a desirable return on investment,” said Bennett.
“Recognising our constraints as an industry association, we have entered a partnership with FarmSol, a trusted and experienced presence in the sector, to oversee these funds.”
Bennett emphasised that the new harvester for the project is a loan that needs to be repaid. “When the Sacta board came to inspect this project last year, we got the opportunity to see how the seed we supplied was performing. During our discussion with the farmers, they shared the struggles of timely soybean harvesting when depending on contractors who often arrive late from as far as Mpumalanga,” said Benett.
According to Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo, who was at the handover, FarmSol’s work is of utmost importance in unlocking the potential of underused high-value land. “Unlike industries like mining, agriculture has the potential to thrive and effectively tackle the country’s three pressing issues: hunger, unemployment and sluggish growth,” he said.
Sihlobo said the transformation of agriculture goes beyond simply redistributing land from one party to another. He believes a comprehensive approach is needed to guarantee that both black and white farmers have equal opportunities to prosper in lucrative markets, including exports.
