Bayer and Khula have announced a strengthened partnership aimed at helping emerging South African farmers access finance, markets, digital tools and technical support needed to build sustainable and profitable farming enterprises. The announcement was made on 12 May at the start of Nampo Harvest Day 2026 at the Bayer exhibition stand in Bothaville in the Free State.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
At the centre of the partnership is the Bayer × Khula Farmer Accelerator, a 12-month programme backed by a R7.5 million ecosystem investment from Bayer. Khula will serve as the implementing partner and host of the accelerator, which aims to prepare 50 emerging farmers to access production finance in their own names and participate more effectively in formal agricultural markets.
The initiative focuses on addressing three major challenges facing the agricultural sector: food security, market access and funding access. According to the partners, strengthening emerging farmers and helping them become bankable businesses is critical for the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s food system.
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Building Pathways for Emerging Farmers
Karidas Tshintsholo, CEO of Khula, said many emerging farmers have the determination and potential to succeed, but often struggle because the support systems around them are fragmented.
“South Africa’s emerging farmers have the ambition and resilience to build thriving businesses. What’s often missing is a connected pathway, credible data, the right capability support, access to finance and a clear route to market,” Tshintsholo said.
“This partnership brings those pieces together so that more farmers can participate confidently in the formal economy and grow sustainable livelihoods.”
Mildred Nadah Pita, head of public affairs, science and sustainability for Africa at Bayer, said the collaboration shows how partnerships can unlock inclusive agricultural growth when innovation is combined with practical farmer support.
“At Bayer, we believe agriculture can be a powerful driver of inclusive growth – when innovation is matched with practical, on-the-ground support,” said Pita.
“By combining Bayer’s expertise with Khula’s digital platform and ecosystem partnerships, we are helping more farmers strengthen productivity, build resilience and access the opportunities that enable long-term success.”
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Beyond Grants and Subsidies
Unlike traditional one-off support interventions, the Bayer × Khula Farmer Accelerator is not structured as a grant, subsidy or input donation programme. Instead, it is designed as a capacity-building initiative focused on strengthening farmer readiness through mentorship, training, compliance support and improved farm management.
The programme seeks to assist farmers who often face barriers such as limited financial records, lack of collateral and inconsistent market opportunities. Through the accelerator, participating farmers will receive practical agronomic guidance, structured mentorship and ongoing technical support to improve productivity and strengthen business decision-making.
Focus on Climate Resilience
The partnership also places strong emphasis on climate resilience and sustainable farming practices. As climate variability continues to affect production planning and profitability, Bayer says the programme will support farmers with climate-smart agricultural solutions, including resilient seed technologies, improved soil and crop management practices, and efficient input use.
The approach is aimed at helping farmers improve yields while strengthening their resilience against climate- and market-related risks.
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Driving Digital Inclusion in Agriculture
Digital inclusion forms another key pillar of the partnership. Through the Khula platform and Bayer’s field support, farmers will benefit from digital farm mapping, profiling and improved record-keeping.
These digital records are expected to help farmers build credible financial track records that can improve access to production finance and formal markets.
The collaboration further aims to strengthen agricultural value chains by connecting farmers to structured markets and helping them meet compliance and quality standards required by formal buyers.
Measuring Long-term Impact
According to the partners, improved market visibility and reliable offtake opportunities can help farmers plan production more effectively, invest with greater confidence and scale their businesses sustainably.
The success of the initiative will be measured through tangible improvements in farmers’ livelihoods, including increased productivity, improved income stability, stronger resilience to climate and market risks, and better access to finance and formal markets.
Ultimately, Bayer and Khula say the partnership is about building an agricultural ecosystem that allows emerging farmers not only to enter the formal economy but also to remain competitive, expand their operations and contribute meaningfully to rural development and national food security.
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