Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal
In rural Zululand, just northeast of KwaZulu-Natal, agriculture remains one of the most practical ways to create jobs, build local businesses and support household food security. Yet, for many emerging farmers, the distance between potential and reality is wide. Limited access to markets, finance, technical advice and business skills often make it difficult to turn a small plot into a sustainable enterprise. Through its Agriculture SMME Programme, Mondi Zimele is working to close that gap within Mondi’s footprint in Zululand. Launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to support food security and job creation, the programme offers business support, training and extension services to semi-commercial and subsistence farmers. Over time, it is enabling farmers to increase productivity, access formal markets and put more land under productive use.
Throughout Zululand, semi-commercial farmers are utilising their plots of land for food production, either in the form of crops or livestock. Some of these farmers approach Mondi Zimele for business and extension support, seeking training in basic business management and agribusiness support. Ultimately, they were looking for help to grow in a sustainable and economically viable manner.
The Agricultural SMME Development and Support programme has done this; and connected these farmers with a market network, facilitating them in supplying to the likes of Boxer, Spar, Food Lovers Market and many others.
