South Africa’s farming scene is changing, thanks to a new group of young farmers. They are not just farming to get by – they are building real businesses, creating jobs and making money. With good training, new tech and ways to sell their goods, they are shaking up how food is grown in the country.
By Mkhululi Chimoio
With so many people out of work and rural areas struggling, young farmers offer a lot of hope. They can grow South Africa’s farmer numbers, help keep food on tables and build strong farm businesses that last.
From Just Getting by to Proper Business
For a long time, young people weren’t interested in farming. It was seen as tough work with little reward. The Department of Agriculture found that many young South Africans did not think that farming could improve their lives.
But that is slowly changing. More young people are getting into farming through programmes such as mentorships, special farms where they learn, graduate schemes, and teamwork between the government and private companies. These programmes teach more than just how to plant or raise animals. They focus on turning people into farmers who understand markets, money and technology.
Mxolisi Mthombeni, the Youth President of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA), says these programmes are already helping. “The current training and mentorship programmes from both the government and private companies are good for young people. But they need to be more visible. Lots of young people just don’t know they exist.”
According to Mthombeni, AFASA Youth “plays a big part in connecting young farmers with support. By working closely with government departments, farm businesses and other partners, AFASA Youth helps make sure that info about training, money and learning opportunities reaches the right people.”
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Training that is About More Than Just Growing Things
A big shift in young farming is the focus on business skills. Many experts agree that being a good farmer isn’t enough – a good farmer also needs to be a good businessperson.
Simba Maruta, Chief Agronomist at Emerging Farmers Support (EFS), puts it simply: “There is a difference between a farmer and a businessperson. [Being] both is super powerful.”
He thinks South Africa’s education system needs a big refresh to match this reality. He feels that farm training is still too much about books and not enough about doing.
“Teaching people about farming when they have not learnt geography is like building a skyscraper on a flimsy hut,” says Maruta.
He also thinks that “subjects like physical geography, food processing, starting your own business and business plans [need a far stronger emphasis from an early school age].”
The Department of Agriculture knows about these gaps and says it is fixing them with specific training and advice.
“Through programmes like the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), young farmers learn about growing things, managing money, quality rules and following the law,” says the Department.
“Plus, the government’s graduate programme places unemployed agriculture graduates on farms for two years. During this time, they get hands-on experience and learn about starting a business. After the programme, many get help with [start-up] packages to kick off their own farm businesses.”
How Tech is Changing How Young Farmers Work
Technology is a big part of this new farming trend. Young farmers are more eager and able to use digital tools that make things run smoother and cut down on risks.
According to AFASA’s Mthombeni, South African farming is making good strides here.
“Young farmers are using apps to find markets, do their accounts, figure out plants and manage their farms. Digital tools also help farmers measure land, confirm boundaries and better understand what their land is worth.”
The Department of Agriculture is helping this change in a few ways. Working with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the Department promotes the ARC Hub, an app that gives info from before planting to after harvest for different crops. Different regions are also using smart farming systems that use map data to give specific advice for farms.
Drones, sensors and automated systems are becoming more common. EFS’s Maruta points out that drones have made it cheaper to watch over farms, make maps and spray pesticides.
“Sensor tech lets farmers automatically water and process things, making them more accurate and saving [time],” he says.
But there are still problems. Although some countries are already using super advanced tech to track animals and diseases, South Africa still needs to set up similar systems to compete globally. Internet access and skill gaps also limit how much good technology can do, especially in far-off rural areas.
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Finding Crops that Make Money and Real Places to Sell Them
Making a profit is what really draws young people to farming. Without clear ways to earn money, farming cannot compete with other jobs.
One area where young farmers are doing well is with high-value crops such as baby vegetables. Vegetables like baby marrows and patty pans grow fast, often in six to eight weeks, and sell for much more than regular veggies like cabbage.
A kilo of cabbage might sell for R1.50 to R2 at the farm gate, whereas baby vegetables can go for about R30, says Maruta. They bring in cash quickly and have less risk.
But getting to market is still a big problem. Many new farmers struggle to supply enough consistent produce and meet the quality rules needed by formal markets.
AFASA Youth is tackling this by working together. Plans are being made to set up regional learning centres that will gather produce from different farmers. Groups of farmers are also forming based on what they grow, making it easier to connect them with the right buyers.
“We believe that by coming together as African farmers, market access problems can be greatly reduced,” says Mthombeni. “Scattered production makes it hard to meet market demand.”
The Department of Agriculture is also pushing market-focused approaches like the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) programme. This encourages farmers to plan what to grow based on what the market needs, rather than growing first and then looking for buyers.
Rules, Land and Money: The Big Roadblocks
Despite progress, big hurdles still limit young people in farming, and the biggest issue is getting land and money.
Many young farmers are the first in their families to farm and do not own land or have things to offer as security for a loan. Mthombeni wants more flexible and young-person-friendly ways to get money, such as loans with easy terms and grants that grow as farmers show they are doing well.
According to the Department of Agriculture, it has introduced things such as the e-voucher system, which helps farmers get supplies on time, and grant holding accounts that cut down on delays. Support centres are being set up to offer all-in-one assistance, including training, machinery, storage and market access.
Maruta thinks policymakers need to think even bigger. He suggests special farms where trained young farmers get land, buildings and money to operate for several years. After getting experience and making money, they can then rent or buy land and farm on their own.
He also stresses that land reform should focus on building a complete farming system, not just handing over farms. This includes suppliers, processors, stores and services.
A Future Built by Young Hands
Young farmers are increasingly seen as key drivers of new ideas and strength in South Africa’s food system. They are more open to technology, new business models and smart ways of farming that deal with climate change.
The Department of Agriculture sees young people as naturally good at picking up modern systems and is investing in digital platforms, climate-smart farming training and broad support for the whole supply chain.
Although challenges are still there, the direction is clear. With better schooling, hands-on training, access to land and money, and strong partnerships between the government, private companies and farmer groups, youth-led farming can become a powerful engine for growth.
These new young farmers are not asking for handouts. They are asking for fair chances, practical skills and access to markets. With the right help, they are proving that farming can be modern, profitable and a career to be proud of once again.
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