Small-scale black farmers in South Africa face the challenge of meeting the scale and quality standards required by formal markets
To compete sustainably at commercial levels, farmers need to develop their operational and financial capacity, which often requires years of development support. However, the private sector has generally overlooked smallholder farmers, perceiving them as risky and commercially unviable. Retailers, on the other hand, with their extensive experience and capacity, can play a critical role in developing farmers to meet global quantity and quality standards.
Recognizing the vital role that small-scale farmers play in connecting and meeting the needs of communities and creating job opportunities along the food value chain, Wakanda has developed the 12-month farmprenuer program. This program makes a targeted effort to develop black farmers, particularly black women farmers, at scale while increasing the number of black suppliers within formal retail. By doing so, Wakanda aims to address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and ensure their ongoing participation in the value chain.
Through the farmprenuer program, Wakanda provides black farmers with the necessary support to meet the quality and quantity standards required by formal markets. The program helps farmers graduate from being standalone entities to sustainable commercial entities. This support includes access to funding, technical assistance, and market linkages. By enabling small-scale farmers to meet formal market requirements, the program contributes to the growth of the agricultural sector, creates jobs, and supports food security in South Africa.