Khula! and Kagiso Trust Empower 500 Small-Scale Farmers Across South Africa

Khula! and Kagiso Trust have launched a partnership to unlock the potential of 500 small-scale farmers in South Africa. The programme focuses on equipping farmers with business, financial, and technological skills to compete in formal markets. Many farmers excel at production but lack the tools to run a sustainable enterprise.

The initiative, introduced in Johannesburg, uses technology-driven support to bridge market access gaps. Quinton Naidoo, head of socio-economic development at Kagiso Trust, explained that the programme provides a “staircase” connecting informal farmers with formal economic opportunities. It aims to create a database of funding-ready farmers visible to financiers and able to access capital more easily.

Naidoo stressed the importance of collaboration in the sector. “We need to break down silos. Too often multiple organisations work in the same commodity without coordination,” he said. The partnership represents a benchmark for unified action in agriculture.

Kagiso Trust’s Tyala Impact Fund also plays a role, offering patient capital designed to develop financial discipline rather than dependency on grants. The fund provides concessionary loans for production while building skills for sustainable financial management.

Dr Ziyanda Mzamo, chief corporate services officer at Kagiso Trust, highlighted the importance of farmer-focused technology. The programme addresses challenges such as poor connectivity, unreliable power, limited digital literacy, and high data costs. Farmers will receive training to use the platform effectively, ensuring technology translates into practical farm benefits.

Khula! CEO Karidas Tshintsholo emphasised that the main barrier is not funding but readiness. The initiative provides AI-powered tools to identify crop issues instantly and deliver technical guidance via mobile devices. Farmers receive practical, accessible support that improves decision-making on the farm.

While the initial phase targets 500 farmers, the organisers hope to expand participation through partnerships with additional funders, banks, and commodity associations. The programme sets a precedent for combining digital, financial, and business support to strengthen South Africa’s small-scale farming sector.

This partnership demonstrates a clear path to transforming production potential into market success, equipping farmers to compete sustainably and access opportunities that were previously out of reach.