Urban and kasi farmers forge unity

Emerging farmers from rural and township areas met at the Agriculture Research Centre in Stellenbosch to launch colab to make their ventures fruitful.

The farmers, from the Cape Flats, Garden Route, Overberg, West Coast, Cape Karoo, Winelands and the city, formed a structure under the National Co-operatives Association of South Africa (NCASA) and African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA).

Presentations by departments and companies Aztec agriculture, Lionels Vet, Land Bank, Old Mutual, Agriculture Research Council, Farmnet and Ezolimo gave farmers an insight into how they can improve their businesses.

The meeting was chaired by Tshidi Masebe and Qondiso Mooi and the farmers were asking probing questions and given the chance to raise their concerns.

In his opening remarks, the elected president, Rantheleng Dlangamandla, said they aim to commercialise the developing small scale, smallholder and backyard farmers, and facilitate meaningful participation of black individuals within the mainstream commercial agribusiness sector, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector in South Africa.

He said there are private and public stakeholders willing to support farmers.

“Agri-processing is the most feasible activity that can contribute in boosting the economy,” he said. Dlangamandla emphasised that the assistance is given to all active farmers and they are not spoon fed but the association facilitated for those who are determined and committed.

Ms Nomonde Fihla also serving in the re-elected executive said was imperative to organise farmers and have them working in unison.

Ms Tshidi Masebe encouraged stakeholders to be engaged in the following: meaning, and effects of environment impact assessment on commodities; to check farmers’ understanding in knowing soil types and its effect on commodities like crops, be part of the farmers in helping them to identify the available land available, grouping the farmers of the same commodities to work together collaboratively

The AFASA NCASA Western Cape executive committee will be meeting to discuss way of incorporating a youth and women’s desk in their organisation.

Executive member Mqondisio Mooi said appealed to the body: “Let us find each other because black people fail by working in silos. Let us be like an Afri-Forum handling all situations together.”