In order for the farming industry to grow and thrive,
the priority needs to move from farms to farming,
from land to the ability to work the land.
THE MENTORS
The successful and experienced farmers who share their knowledge and wisdom.
THE FACILITATORS
The forward-thinking funders and employees of Farmers for Africa who create the opportunity.
trainee farmers
The Result of this Combination and Collaboration?
SHORT TERM OBJECTIVE
Development of Black Farm Managers
Medium term objective
Development of Black Commercial Farmers
Long term objective
Ensuring our food security
SHORT TERM OBJECTIVE
Development of Black Farm Managers
Medium term objective
Development of Black Commercial Farmers
Long term objective
Ensuring our food security
A prosperous and inclusive farming industry that puts food on the table.
FARMERS FOR AFRICA is a dynamic and innovative non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of a new generation of young black commercial farmers in South Africa.
THE FACTS
There are 35,000 farmers in South Africa, 94% of them are white and their average age is 62. Many of their children are not interested in farming. Therefore they have no one to pass their skills and experience onto.
There are many young black graduates passing out of agricultural colleges and universities with the necessary theory, but they do not have farms to go to where they can gain the experience that turns theory into practice.
- There are insufficient black commercial farmers to meet the demands of food security.
- There is government funding available for the development of black farmers.
- There is a lack of structured programmes to manage funding and development.
There is appreciation for the need to get a new generation of young, competent black farmers onto the land both to contribute to a normalised society and to ensure long term food security.
FARMERS FOR AFRICA HAS A SOLUTION
We call it:
The Farmers for Africa partnership formulae
how the formulae works
how the programme works
Once the mentor farmer and the graduate have been paired the following takes place:
A three-year training programme that sees the trainee farm manager undergo a rigorous training programme divided into six modules, supervised by the mentor farmer supported by Farmers For Africa staff, ensuring that he graduates as a competent farm manager who has the practical experience to work in his or her chosen field of agriculture.
At the completion of the three-year Farmers For Africa training programme the graduating farm manager may continue on the farm where he has trained or move on, but now having the experience, endorsement and certification to be marketable.
With a sufficient track record the graduate will ultimately be able to get the funding to buy his or her own farm.