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CORE INTERVENTIONS OF THE FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
The Farmer Development Programme’s engagement with producers is designed so that producers
are enrolled into a study group as the first point of contact. Through the study groups, monthly meet-
ings are hosted with producers, where information on various grain production topics is shared and
discussed intensively. In addition, producers are trained theoretically and practically through field
trials and producer days. At this stage most of the producers are expected to go on to implement
lessons independently.
Over the years, however, the need to focus on growing individuals became apparent. In this regard
there are often two groups of producers: 1) Those whose production inputs are funded through dif-
ferent collaborating partners. In this regard, mentorship support is provided to ensure performance
efficiency and thus repayment of loans, and 2) those who have access to their own inputs but could
benefit from information shared at study group meetings and on a one-on-one support basis provided
through the programme’s regional offices. Overall, these two groups of producers are the strategic
focus towards commercialisation of the Farmer Development Programme.
Farmer development impact model
Producers start at the study group level and then progress from there – not all producers can or wish
to increase the size of their cropping enterprise, but ALL do wish to increase the yields that they are
attaining from their farming activities.
The ultimate mission of the programme is to develop capacitated profitable and sustainable grain
producers. To realise this mission, funding remains one of the biggest gaps and challenges for
developing black producers. Through study groups, producers are supported with information and
training to get them into a higher state of productivity and to cultivate a basic understanding of the
grain industry. However, there are often producers who grow beyond the type of support acces-
sible through the study group structures. These producers are already farming on a semi-commercial
scale, but are not independent. Their margins are relatively small and additional assistance remains
key to support increasing their
production capacity in terms of
the amount of land put under
production. These producers
also do not have enough funds
to cover costs relating to soil
corrections (such as lime), crop
insurance and enterprise-wide
mentorship support, including
production planning, farm man-
agement, financial management
and marketing support, among
other things.
Sourcing of
production inputs and
mechanisation funding
through
different financing instruments
Farmers join
study groups
Farmer training
(production, technical and
business management skills)
One-on-one support
for
independent grain farmers without
direct inputs funded
Top-up input support for advanced
producers
(crop insurance, soil
corrections and producer mentorship)
Smallholder
farmers
New era commercial
farmers
(advanced farmers)
Scaling-up
(profitability,
commercialisation
and sustainability)
Harvest time for the Sophumelela study group producers who are mentored
and supported by regional manager Luke Collier from the Kokstad office.
FARMER DEVELOPMENT