MegaBanner-Right

MegaBanner-Left

LeaderBoad-Right

LeaderBoard-Left

Home » Industry News » Agriculture News » Agricultural programme sparks a bountiful harvest for emerging farmers

Agricultural programme sparks a bountiful harvest for emerging farmers

A silver lining of Covid-19’s adverse effects on food security and access to food is that Mondi’s Zimele programme has since developed 122 emerging farmers. 

This includes 17 SMMEs constituted by 11 co-operatives, and six individual farmers.

More than 1 098 households have benefitted, with some 320 permanent and seasonal jobs created, and approximately R2-million in revenue has been generated since the programme’s launch.

GM Nelly Ndlovu explains that Mondi Zimele is the business development arm of Mondi South Africa. Its Agriculture SMME programme is part of a broader initiative that provides technical and business support to emerging farmers. 

The programme focuses on communities where Mondi and SiyaQhubeka Forests (SQF) operate in Zululand, northern KwaZulu-Natal, and there are plans to expand to other close-by communities.

“Mondi sees agriculture as a vehicle for economic freedom,” says Ndlovu. 

“To this end, Mondi Zimele supplies farmers with technical farming support, including seedlings in the early stages of the programme, business support and financial management training.”

Bongile Bho of Bongile Bho Trading and Projects says Mondi Zimele helped her “with knowledge to be the independent farmer” she is today. 

Bho began by selling her produce at the local bus stations; now she supplies Spar and Food Lovers Market.

Dokodweni Farming’s Sifiso Nkwanyana said that Mondi Zimele helped him install a borehole for his farm, which now supplies fresh produce to Spar and Pick ’n Pay.

“This facilitation of formal markets, with exceptional support from local retailers, fresh produce markets and a vision of formalising supply partnerships with food manufacturers has been a critical success factor,” Ndlovu notes. “All the farmers have grown exponentially and are given equal opportunity to supply some of the biggest retailers in South Africa.”

They are also assisted with formal business training. “Mondi Zimele has provided us with business, sales, financial and farming support,” says Eva Biyela of Imahlobo Co-operative in Nzalabantu Reserve. 

“They have been instrumental in teaching us the financial and business side of farming; to record everything that is coming in and what’s spent on business needs like chemicals and seeds, so we know how much profit we make individually.”

Another beneficiary, Mtubatuba-based Lizwi Dube of Ezemvelo Fresh Produce, says: “The training sharpened us more than I can express, especially in communicating with retailers and selecting the best produce to send to market. We are supposed to control the market by supplying the best quality in and out of season. Mondi Zimele provides us with the technical know-how.”

The Fakude family, which owns and runs Mtolo Farming and Produce in KwaMthethwa echoes: “Before we started this business, we didn’t have any networking programmes or training. Mondi Zimele helped us when we wanted to expand and obtain necessary information and knowledge to help maintain our business, and ensure it supplies what customers need.”

“Emerging Zululand farmers who want to join can send their proposals, with pictures of their current operations, to their local traditional authority, which sits on the Mondi Liaising Forum,” notes Ndlovu.

“After a comprehensive assessment, the chiefs submit them to Mondi’s Land Department to determine if they are at the subsistence or semi-commercial phase. If all criteria are met, Mondi Zimele will get on board and support them accordingly.”

For more information contact: https://mondizimele.co.za/

To enquire about Cape Business News' digital marketing options please contact sales@cbn.co.za

Related articles

BMG powers up at Nampo 2025

The BMG team was highly prominent at this year’s Nampo agricultural show, held near Bothaville recently. “This prestigious event, which is considered one of the largest...

The agricultural sector can overcome the impact of potential AGOA exit

By Meluleki Nzimande & Megan Jarvis, Partners at Webber Wentzel THE hostile disposition of US President Donald Trump towards South Africa raises serious concerns about...

Must Read

City working to resume Bayside Canal upgrade in Milnerton

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate remains committed to completing the multi-million rand Bayside Canal upgrade in Milnerton. Work on site...
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.