ANDILE KHUMALO: New black 'boers' need a helping hand to till the land
It is in the interest of all of us to pass on experience
This week I addressed the African Farmers Association of South Africa's Young Farmers Summit about entrepreneurship. Although I was meant to be the one imparting knowledge, I observed first-hand the real challenges facing new entrants to this industry. Afasa Youth is spearheaded by a former banker, now a young farmer, Nono Sekhoto, who saw a unique opportunity in facilitating appropriate support for young people who have made farming their career choice. South African agriculture is a well-organised industry. At its heart is primary agriculture - the farming sector. This is where the production of food happens, and where the entire value chain is most threatened. Although farming on its own is a small contributor to the economy, it is supported by the linkages that drive production of the raw material required for agro-processing, which contributes significantly to job creation and up to 16% to GDP. Without a well-established and successful farming industry, the agricultural sector ...
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.