By Lebogang Mashala
One hundred smallholder farmers in the Jozini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, have been integrated into Unilever’s supply chain, providing chillies and herbs for the multinational company’s food division, which produces household brands such as Knorr, Knorrox, Rajah and Robertson Spices.
The initiative was announced at the launch of the Jozini Smallholder Farmer Programme, a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Unilever South Africa and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The programme aims to promote sustainability, improve livelihoods and empower smallholder farmers in the Jozini region.
The programme focuses on training farmers to cultivate herbs and spices, enabling them to become suppliers for Unilever’s supplier localisation programme and to sign agreements for the sale of their produce.
The launch event took place in Ndumo Village, Jozini, where a tractor was handed over to the farmers, and a drying tunnel was unveiled – symbols of the support being provided to participants.
Justin Apsey, CEO of Unilever South Africa, says the company has set aside R3,2 billion to support predominantly black-owned suppliers, with a focus on small, medium and micro enterprises. This represents an increase of R894 million from last year.
“As a business, we believe in the transformative power of purpose-driven initiatives,” Apsey says. Unilever’s Enterprise and Supplier Development Fund helps previously disadvantaged businesses by providing interest-free financing. “This addresses two core issues facing small businesses: their difficulty in accessing finance, and securing work from Unilever or obtaining support to secure such work in the future.”
Over the next three years, the fund will provide R40 million in loans to approved enterprise and supplier partners. The goal is to build sustainable black-owned businesses that drive economic growth, create jobs, and develop local initiatives that may not otherwise take root.
The first group of farmers to benefit from this initiative come from Ndumo, Makhane, Mahlabeni and surrounding areas. Apsey says this initiative demonstrates the value of public-private partnerships in advancing socio-economic development and sustainability.
The programme equips farmers with training in the cultivation of herbs and spices, enabling them to become part of Unilever’s supplier localisation programme and to sign formal agreements for the sale of their produce.
Partnerships
This initiative forms part of a larger programme by the DALRRD to revitalise agricultural production in rural areas and improve market access through the Agri-Park Programme.
John Steenhuisen, the minister of agriculture, who officiated at the launch, stressed the importance of collaboration: “Partnerships are essential, and that is why the number-one priority in my role as minister, as stated in our Annual Performance Plan, is Partnerships for Growth. We recognise that if we try to do things on our own, we won’t get far; however, if we work together, we can achieve much more.
“There is no better department to accomplish these three objectives than our Department of Agriculture and our agricultural community. Partnerships go beyond being just a concept or a priority. They are rooted in our core philosophy as South Africans: ubuntu.”
Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, pledged her support for the smallholder farmers in the area. “I’m pleased to see the partnership between the government and Unilever benefiting our farmers. We always appreciate the support from the national Department of Agriculture and Minister John Steenhuisen, who is always available to assist us. Graduates must share the knowledge and skills they learn during the programme.”
Zinhle Manzini, a smallholder farmer from Jozini, expressed her gratitude, saying, “Through the programme, I’ve gained valuable skills for nurturing crops, preparing soil, identifying issues, and taking necessary actions to support crop growth. It has also taught me about the steps involved in the farming process.
“I’m grateful that Unilever is helping us by providing access to marketplaces to sell our produce. I encourage young people and women to participate in such programmes to learn about farming, as it can be a viable source of income.”
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