More than 500 workers – most of them women and young people – have earned seasonal income from a 200-hectare small white bean harvest on the Bjatladi land in Zebediela, Limpopo. The project also marks the first step towards reviving the historic Zebediela Citrus Estate.
By Maphuti Mongatane, business development manager at African Farming
The Small White Bean Project was implemented by the emerging farmer aggregator company SE Holdings with financial support from the Women’s Development Bank Trust. It was developed in partnership with the Bjatladi Communal Property Association (CPA) and Women Investment Portfolio Holdings (WIPHOLD) as the first step in a broader plan to re-establish citrus production on the land.
For the Bjatladi CPA and WIPHOLD, the project represents the beginning of a long-term vision to return the land to sustainable commercial production, creating opportunities for both current and future generations.
Partnership drives development
A key partner is Tiger Brands, whose Agriculture Aggregator Programme supports local procurement and enterprise development by helping emerging farmers gain access to markets, technical support and commercial opportunities.
SE Holdings, a black women-owned agribusiness led by Mpumi Maesela, coordinated the project. Through its aggregation model, the company links farmers with finance, mechanisation, technical expertise, quality assurance and market access.
The initiative also received support from IDH, an organisation that promotes collaboration to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve rural livelihoods.
Also read: How one young woman is turning Zebediela’s agricultural land into jobs and hope
Hundreds of seasonal jobs created
During African Farming’s visit on Wednesday, 22 July, the impact of the project was evident across the fields. The 200-hectare bean harvest created seasonal employment for 538 people, including 318 women. About 60% of the workforce were young people.
For many families in the area, the harvest provided a valuable source of income while offering practical agricultural experience and skills development.
Dr Luz Helena Hanauer, senior advisor: inclusive development and governance at SE Holdings, said the project combines commercial production with meaningful social impact.
One of the seasonal workers, Ntate Huma from Mathibela Phase 1, said he appreciated both the employment opportunity and the fair wages. He expressed the hope that future harvesting seasons could be extended to provide longer periods of work for local families.
Arnold Derembwe of IDH said projects such as this demonstrate the value of collaboration between the private sector, development organisations and farming communities in building stronger agricultural value chains.
Also read: Land reform gets second chance: WIPHOLD’s plan to resurrect Zebediela Citrus Farm
Foundation for future citrus production
Beyond the benefits of this season’s harvest – employment, skills development and food production – the project has laid the foundation for restoring the land to productive commercial use, creating opportunities for emerging farmers.
Also read and watch:
Why land reform fails after handover – and the private sector CSI model that actually works
Failed land reform project gets second chance: Zebediela revival announced
What South Africa’s citrus success tells us about meaningful transformation
