This past week, I was privileged to attend the Zamukele Annual Celebration Day, hosted at the Schoeman Group headquarters in Delmas, just outside Pretoria.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
Zamukele, which means “adopt” in isiZulu, is a project launched in 2017 by then Chairman and CEO of the Schoeman Group, Oom Kallie Schoeman. Now under the leadership of Success Mdluli, its mission is simple yet powerful: to establish emerging dry bean producers as commercial farmers. The project identifies and supports smallholder white bean farmers, offering mentorship, seed, fertiliser and access to local and international markets.
Also read: ‘How to build a sustainable farming enterprise’ – Success Mdluli, Schoeman Group
Currently, Zamukele supports farmers across the Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West. Producers deliver their beans on a contract basis to the Schoeman Group’s processing plant in Delmas.
Mentorship is a cornerstone of the programme, with experienced mentors visiting farmers at critical stages of production. These visits not only provide technical advice but also build confidence by sharing success stories from fellow farmers.
At the event, Oom Kallie made a compelling case for why smallholder grain farmers should include beans in their crop rotation. Even I learnt something new from that speech. It was the first time I heard of a country called Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. I’m not kidding you; until this week, I had no idea this country even existed. And it’s not because it’s some small, obscure nation tucked away in the east. Far from it. Myanmar is home to about 55 million people, almost the same as South Africa’s population. Geographically, it’s no small player either. It’s the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia, sharing borders with heavyweights like India, Bangladesh and China, among others.
Also read: Expert advice from Success Mdluli, project manager of the Zamukele programme
A Global Perspective on Bean Production
But the real reason Myanmar came up in that speech was fascinating. It turns out the country is the world’s leading producer of small white beans, delivering a staggering 6.9 million tonnes per year. India follows closely with 6.2 million tonnes, Brazil sits third at 2.9 million tonnes, and, perhaps surprisingly, Tanzania takes fourth place at 1.3 million tonnes, ahead of the United States in fifth with 1 million tonnes. The list continues with Kenya producing 865 000 tonnes and Ethiopia at 630 000 tonnes.
And where is South Africa in all of this? Sadly, nowhere near the top. Our production hovers between 44 000 and 80 000 tonnes a year, which means we’re not self-sufficient. In fact, we import about 85 000 tonnes of beans annually to meet demand. Clearly, there’s still a massive gap, and an even bigger opportunity, for local farmers to tap into this market.
Also read: The small white bean’s journey – from soil to KOO Baked Beans
The demand for affordable, plant-based protein is increasing worldwide. With populations rising, particularly in China, which is expected to exceed 1.6 billion by 2050, traditional livestock production will struggle to keep up. That makes beans, and pulses in general, an attractive alternative.
Unlike animals, beans don’t get foot-and-mouth disease, swine fever or Newcastle disease. For South African smallholders, especially dryland farmers, this represents a real opportunity to commercialise while contributing to food security.
In an article published a few years ago in Grain SA’s Imvula/Pula magazine, the writer highlighted the wide-ranging benefits of dry beans as both a rotational crop and a nutritional powerhouse. Beyond meeting strong market demand, dry beans carry distinct health and economic advantages.
Nutritionally, they are cholesterol-free, high in fibre, rich in essential amino acids and a slow-releasing energy source, making them particularly suitable for people managing diabetes. From a farming perspective, dry beans slot seamlessly into crop rotation systems, helping improve soil health while offering attractive returns. Under good management, they can generate a gross income of around R26 000 per hectare, which rivals, or even outperforms, many other dryland crops.
Farm gate prices remain attractive, ranging between R12 000 and R14 000 per tonne. With proper investment, mentorship and scaling, smallholders can go beyond supplying merchants and eventually package and brand their own beans for direct sale.
Unlocking South Africa’s Bean Potential
South Africa’s bean industry may be small, but it sits on fertile ground, literally and figuratively. We have the climate, the demand and a growing number of capable farmers ready to scale up. What we need is greater focus: investment in mentorship programmes like Zamukele, stronger support systems for smallholders and a coordinated strategy to reduce import dependency.
Beans may seem humble, but their potential is anything but. As global demand shifts towards plant-based protein, South Africa has a chance to grow not only beans, but also farmers, markets and livelihoods.
The question is not whether we can compete with Myanmar or India. The real question is whether we are willing to take beans seriously enough to unlock the opportunities right here at home.
