The Schoeman Group’s headquarters in Delmas, Mpumalanga, played host to the annual Zamukele Day of Celebration recently, where Chairperson Kallie Schoeman delivered a direct message to farmers and industry leaders: If farmers are not at the table, they will be on the menu.
By Maphuti Mongatane, Business Development Manager at African Farming
Schoeman cautioned that being visible only in the fields is no longer enough. Farmers, he said, must be present in the spaces where decisions about their futures are made, from policy discussions to investment negotiations. “Being loud in the field is not enough. We must be visible in policymaking, in negotiations and in investment circles,” he told the gathering.
Operating in an environment where bureaucracy often stifles progress, Schoeman stressed the need for practical solutions over paperwork. He criticised corporate players who prioritise certifications and reports while ignoring on-the-ground realities.
“True transformation lies in developing people, creating opportunity and opening access to markets, not endless paperwork or symbolic gestures,” he said.
Also read: Legacy, resilience and walking the journey of transformation with farmers
Input Support from The Schoeman Group
Financing remains a major obstacle for smallholders. Government schemes, Schoeman noted, often look effective on paper but fall short in execution because of delays and red tape. To bridge the gap, the Schoeman Group has stepped in with input support such as seed and fertiliser, mentorship and efforts to establish low-interest financing partnerships.
Central to the group’s empowerment efforts is the Zamukele Project, which currently supports 62 emerging dry bean farmers across South Africa.
The initiative provides certified seed, fertiliser and four annual visits from technical mentors. Farmers then supply their harvests to the Schoeman Group’s bean plant in Delmas, where the crop is sorted and delivered to the local food manufacturing industry, including canned goods producers.
The model not only gives smallholders access to markets but also equips them with the tools to progress towards full commercial status.
Also read: ‘How to build a sustainable farming enterprise’ – Success Mdluli, Schoeman Group
Demand for Plant-based protein
Beans took centre stage at the event, both as a crop and as a symbol of transformation. South Africa produces between 44 000 and 80 000 tonnes of beans annually, yet still imports about 85 000 tonnes to meet demand.
Globally, countries such as Myanmar (6.9 million tonnes), India (6.2 million) and Brazil (2.9 million) dominate production. Tanzania produces 1.3 million tonnes and the United States accounts for 1 million. Kenya and Ethiopia contribute 865 000 and 630 000 tonnes respectively.
By comparison, South Africa lags significantly, leaving what Schoeman described as a “massive gap and an even bigger opportunity” for local producers.
He pointed to the growing global demand for plant-based protein as a key driver. With China’s population expected to surpass 1.6 billion by 2050, traditional livestock systems will struggle to keep up, placing pulses at the heart of future food security.
Also read: ‘You don’t guess your way to success’ – Brian Lever
A Legacy of Resilience
Leading a fourth-generation farming business, Schoeman underscored the long-term nature of agriculture. Farming, he said, is not for the faint-hearted or those chasing quick profits. Instead, it demands resilience, vision and sacrifice.
Reflecting on recent seasons marked by extreme weather, pests and policy frustrations, he praised farmers for continuing to endure. “Farmers are not just food producers. They are economists, pathologists, mechanisation specialists and even psychologists. They endure drought, floods, theft and policy instability, yet they still show up to build legacies for grandchildren they haven’t met,” he said.
Schoeman’s message to the agricultural sector was clear: Farmers must claim their place in the decision-making processes that affect them. With initiatives like Zamukele showing what practical empowerment looks like, he argued that the path forward lies not in more red tape but in action and collaboration.
For Schoeman, beans are more than a crop, they represent resilience, opportunity and a future where South African farmers are not only in the fields but also firmly seated at the table.
Also read: From our editor: Why South Africa needs to take beans seriously
