The provincial Department of Agriculture and Land Reform in the North West province has hit the ground running following last week’s State of the Province Address when Premier Bushy Maape outlined the recommendations of the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council. The expert panel recommended that this council should be revived with focused expertise in critical sectors of the economy of which agriculture is one of those. North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with Sun City Resort officially hosted the first Provincial Agricultural Smallholders Market Access Summit (PAMAS) at Sun City Convention Center from February 26-28 for smallholder farmers.
MEC Desbo Mohono accompanied by LED Members of the Mayoral Committee from District Municipalities, farmers and mining companies were in attendance of the three-day summit that forge means to broaden the basket of agricultural commodities and value-added products that are intended for local and international markets.
The agricultural markets are dominated by larger commercial producers, and smallholder farmers face barriers to entry into the market. The summit aimed to address these issues by providing a forum to facilitate and connect smallholder farmers in the province to market opportunities, give stakeholders a chance to talk about and exchange ideas on how to access big markets, and support farmers in supplying their produce in accordance with market standards.
“The Department wants to create a linkage for smallholder farmers to market and showcase their produce to open marketing opportunities. If we can be able to supply Sun City Resorts, Mines and other Markets, it will automatically generate stable income and growth opportunities for smallholder farmers, if they take advantage of their specific location and social adeptness interims of producing quality and quantity. This conference is the stadia for our farmers to be able to network, position, listen, market and really grow their business acumen,” said MEC Mohono.
Tlogelang Chiloane, Manager for Stakeholder Relations at the Bakubung Platinum Mine, described their agricultural projects as part of the Social and Labour Plan (SLPs).
“When the mine entered into its surface lease agreement with Bakubung Ba Ratheo Traditional Authority, a consideration was included by the mine to acquire a separate farm with the purpose to nurture local community-based farmers as part of our Social and Labour Plan (SLP). The farm Zwartkoppies with a total of 963 hectares was then acquired and identified as a potential contributor to broader poverty alleviation and job creation initiatives through agricultural activities. A feasibility study was conducted on the farm and pointed out the potential for crop as well as livestock farming” expressed Chiloane. Presentations from Bakubung, Kwa Maritane, Black Rhino, several mining companies, and farmers working with Sun City Resort were made as part of the commissions on red meat, horticulture, and processed grains. The farmers were promised assistance in adhering to the requirements of resorts like Sun City.
“As much as you guys are farmers, it doesn’t serve any purpose if you are farming something that I cannot use at the end, so at some point, you need to do your research and see what it is it that we require at the end and the quality of that particular thing,” Sun City Resort Chef Peter reminded farmers in the North West of the standards required by the resort.
MEC Desbo Mohono expressed her satisfaction that the Department was able to bring together smallholder farmers, industry experts, and potential markets under one roof for networking and knowledge sharing.
“Economic growth and emancipation in the North West province will increase and open new markets for products of our farmers which are the backbone to this important transition,” said Mohono.
Participants also gained knowledge on how to get funds to advance their fields of expertise. The Department plans to bring this project to districts where farmers will once more have the chance to interact with potential markets.
