Emerging potato farmers are improving their yields and agriculture students are getting support through bursaries, training and research thanks to a partnership between the University of Limpopo and the Kgodiso Development Fund.
By Montsho Matlala
The Kgodiso Development Fund (KDF), the corporate social investment arm of PepsiCo South Africa, and the University of Limpopo (UL) have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting emerging black potato farmers in Limpopo while investing in the next generation of farmers through bursaries and research funding.
The partners met on 8 July, with KDF board chairperson Setlakalane Molepo and UL vice-chancellor Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele leading their respective teams to review progress on the initiative. Before meeting with university management, the KDF board visited several black-owned potato farms in the Blouberg area.
KDF committed R5 million in January this year to UL’s Enhanced Bursary and Farmer Development Initiative. The programme aims to address skills shortages in agriculture, strengthen smallholder farming, and promote research that contributes to sustainable food systems, food security and rural economic development.
Also read: Vegetable production: Grow potatoes profitably
Training farmers and supporting students
The partnership aligns with the university’s ethos of “Finding Solutions for Africa” and demonstrates how strategic partnerships can create meaningful social impact, Mabelebele says.
“We are strengthening rural livelihoods and food security through an eight-month capacity-building programme for 50 smallholder potato farmers across Limpopo. We also promote research and innovation that generate practical solutions to support agricultural productivity and inform policy and practice.”
The funding is already supporting 25 final-year students and five postgraduate students, according to Professor Mbulaheni Victor Mmbengwa of UL’s School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The programme also provides practical training and on-farm skills development for emerging potato farmers in the Blouberg Municipality, covering topics such as pest management, water-use efficiency and market access.
Mmbengwa says he is impressed by the keen interest farmers are showing during the training and capacity-building workshops, which are presented in English and Sepedi.
Also read: Vegetable production: Controlling potato pests
Building a stronger potato industry
The partnership reflects KDF’s commitment to building a more inclusive and resilient South African food system, Molepo says. Investing in emerging black farmers and supporting young people who are passionate about agriculture are central to that commitment.
He says research and technical support are essential if these farmers are to reach their full production potential. Without scientifically based research, they will not achieve the highest possible yields.
KDF hopes to help emerging potato farmers increase their yields from the current 60 to 70 tonnes per hectare to 100 tonnes or more, he says.
Approximately a quarter of potatoes consumed in South Africa are produced in Limpopo’s potato belt, stretching from the Blouberg area to the Botswana border, Molepo says. KDF’s goal is to help establish the Blouberg area as a centre of excellence for sustainable potato production.
Research partnerships
The bursary programme is expected to help address scarce skills in agriculture, says KDF executive director Diale Tilo.
To support research and innovation, KDF has partnered with the University of Limpopo, the University of the Free State and North-West University.
Also read: ‘R92 million for black farmers and there’s more to come’ – Kgodiso Development Fund
