A new incubation programme at Tarlton Agri-Park in Mogale City is taking aim at one of smallholder agriculture’s biggest challenges: Turning farmers into commercially viable businesses that can access markets, create jobs and attract finance.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
At the centre of the initiative is Leeko Makoene-Motsuenyane, founder of the Rural Box Foundation and the driving force behind the Rural Box Agripreneur Programme.
The programme was recently launched in Tarlton in the Mogale City Municipality, west of Johannesburg. This is a partnership between the Rural Box Foundation and Nedbank, with support from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and Mogale City Local Municipality.
For Makoene-Motsuenyane, the programme is about addressing a challenge she has encountered repeatedly in working with rural and township farmers: Helping them move beyond production and become sustainable businesses.
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A purpose bigger than farming
Reflecting on the journey of putting the programme together, Makoene-Motsuenyane said the process reminded her why she started the Rural Box Foundation.
“Putting together the programme wasn’t easy, and it reminded me that my purpose is not to become a large commercial farmer, but to help empower those who should be taking over the commercial space,” she said.
That purpose is now being translated into action through a 12-month intensive incubation programme for 11 emerging farmers from Mogale City.
Ten of the participants are women and six are young people.
Makoene-Motsuenyane believes simply providing farmers with land, infrastructure or production inputs is not enough to create sustainable agricultural businesses. Farmers must also understand how commercial markets work, manage their finances, meet compliance requirements and consistently supply products that meet buyers’ standards.
“Our aim for this programme is to ensure that we prepare the participants for the real farming world. We are preparing the participants to [meet the requirements of] tough markets and financiers,” said Makoene-Motsuenyane.
Preparing farmers for the market
The participants will have access to a fully operational nursery and receive practical training in seedling production, alongside business and financial skills development. They will also have access to shared production tunnels, tools and equipment, mentorship from industry experts and opportunities to access markets and offtake agreements.
For Makoene-Motsuenyane, market access is critical. Through Rural Box, she has worked to address some of the logistical and market barriers that prevent small-scale rural and township farmers from participating meaningfully in formal agricultural value chains.
The foundation provides market access, infrastructure and technology. It has also collaborated with companies such as Nando’s and Dew Crisp to create market opportunities for smallholder farmers.
Makoene-Motsuenyane believes farmers need more than short-term support. They need an environment where they can learn to produce consistently, understand their numbers, meet quality standards and build lasting relationships with buyers.
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Turning an agripark into a launchpad
The programme is hosted at Tarlton Agri-Park, which gives participants access to production tunnels, irrigation systems, cold rooms, storage facilities and a solar unit. More than R8 million has been invested in upgrading the facility and supporting the incubation of the 11 agricultural SMMEs.
For Makoene-Motsuenyane, however, the infrastructure is only part of the equation. The bigger objective is to use the facility as a platform for developing commercially minded farmers who can eventually operate independently.
This focus also aligns with the Gauteng government’s emphasis on aggregation as a means of helping smallholder farmers overcome the limitations of operating individually.
Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa said small-scale farmers often struggle to access formal markets because they lack sufficient volumes and infrastructure.
“Aggregation is one of the most important strategic interventions available to us to help small-scale farmers cross the gap between production and commercial markets,” Ramokgopa said. She said agriparks should become commercial platforms rather than simply sites where farmers receive government support.
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Building bankable businesses
The programme’s ultimate test will be whether participants can develop the track record required to operate as viable businesses and attract finance.
Katlego Mogase, Nedbank Social Impact Unit representative, said the programme is intended to develop more than successful farmers.
“We are happy to be part of this initiative to empower not only farmers, but employers, innovators and community builders,” Mogase said.
Mogase said the partnership between Nedbank, the Rural Box Foundation and government demonstrates the value of combining resources, expertise, training, mentorship and market opportunities.
“We are supporting these farmers to ensure they not only become successful farmers, but also businesswomen and businessmen who are contributing to the economy.”
Ramokgopa said the ultimate objective of incubation should be to produce bankable enterprises capable of operating independently.
“A farmer with reliable production records, credible financial information, quality compliance, regular customers and the demonstrated ability to fulfil orders represents a fundamentally different proposition to a financial institution from an entrepreneur who has been given inputs but has never established a commercial track record,” she said. “That distinction is crucial if we want businesses to graduate.”
Building the next generation
The 11 entrepreneurs at Tarlton will therefore use the 12-month programme as a launchpad towards increased production, stronger revenues, expanded markets and, ultimately, commercial independence.
For Makoene-Motsuenyane, however, the initiative represents something bigger than a single incubation programme. Her vision is to create a pipeline of entrepreneurs who can occupy a greater space in South Africa’s commercial agricultural economy.
She may not aspire to build the biggest farm herself. Instead, she wants to help build the farmers who will build the future of commercial agriculture.
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