Over the past three days, my colleagues and I spent time at the Rustenburg Agricultural Show, held from 14 to 16 October at the Rustenburg Showgrounds in North West. As always, it was an invaluable opportunity to engage with farmers, agri-preneurs, and stakeholders from across the province.

By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming

During the last day of the show, I spent most of my time at our African Farming exhibition stand, interacting with farmers who stopped by to learn more about what we do. Many of them asked a question that has become increasingly familiar to me: “As African Farming, what is it that you do for us farmers? Do you offer funding?”

Each time I answered “no”, I could see the disappointment in their faces. Whatever I tried to explain after that – about information, visibility and market access – seemed to matter little once they realised we didn’t provide funding.

MEC Faces Farmers’ Funding Frustrations in Emotional North West Session

A few hours later, I facilitated a session initiated by the North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, which began as a structured stakeholder engagement but soon turned into an emotionally charged dialogue. Farmers spoke directly to the MEC, voicing their frustrations about the lack of effective government support, broken funding models and unresponsive extension services.

Also read: From our editor: Cheers to farmers and the revival of agricultural shows

The Funding Crisis Blocking South Africa’s Agricultural Transformation

It was a stark reminder that the issue of funding and support for black farmers remains one of the most pressing barriers to agricultural transformation in South Africa. Across every province, black farmers face a similar reality: a shortage of accessible finance, enterprise development support and the social infrastructure necessary to succeed.

Many experts argue that with the right support, black farmers could become central to driving agricultural growth and rural economic development. Yet much of the national conversation has focused only on historic injustices and the exclusion of black farmers from the agricultural economy, without adequately examining the readiness and support structures required for sustainable participation.

It is often suggested that the selection of agricultural development beneficiaries should consider experience, knowledge and business interest. While not everyone agrees that farmers should have their own starting capital, there is consensus that those who have demonstrated commitment and perseverance, even if their projects previously failed due to lack of resources, should be prioritised for government support.

Also read: Revived North West Agricultural Show puts farmers first

Unfortunately, current models often rely on loan financing rather than grant-based or blended funding, which further burdens emerging farmers who lack collateral or predictable cashflow. Without an effective, inclusive funding model for agricultural development, many promising black farmers will remain stuck on the margins, unable to transition from subsistence or small-scale operations to viable commercial enterprises.

AgriFund Connect Summit

Recognising this urgent need for financial intermediation and enterprise growth, African Farming will host the inaugural AgriFund Connect Summit on 6 November 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre.

This groundbreaking event, themed “Funding the Future of Farming: Building Bankable and Compliant Agribusinesses”, will bring together farmers, agri-preneurs, financial institutions and development partners under one roof. The aim is to bridge the gap between ambition and access, connecting farmers to practical knowledge, tools and real funding opportunities.

The AgriFund Connect Summit is designed to empower small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the agricultural sector by offering hands-on learning, mentorship and exposure to funding partners. Through interactive sessions, participants will gain insights into:

How to make their agribusinesses investment-ready and financially compliant.
Mastering the art of pitching to attract investors and funding partners.
Accessing government and private sector funding programmes.
Engaging directly with mentors, financiers, and policymakers.

Whether you are an established agribusiness looking to scale, a farmer exploring funding options or an entrepreneur refining your business model, the AgriFund Connect Summit is your gateway to growth and sustainability.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn and take your agribusiness to the next level. Together, let’s turn great ideas into thriving enterprises and ensure the future of farming in South Africa is funded, productive and inclusive.