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Vaal De Deur Cluster: Turnover - R12 000 000

This clusters’ success is contributed to the fact that there was a natural development process from a primary to a secondary focus. This was a creative problem solving process due to frost during the winter months and the lack of access to development finance to erect tunnels or netting. There was a market opportunity in supplying to hotels, and hospitals, prisons and schools – processed vegetables and fruit. Sourcing is done from existing primary producing cluster members or the fresh produce markets. The cluster has their own processing plant and cold trucks to transport the produce. The processing plant is available to the four youth to do basic cutting in house pre-packs for employees at office blocks such as Rand water. The youth pay rent and charge for the pre-packed household packs. Agri Academy trained the members of this cluster since 2011. Due to the internal changes and expansion of the cluster more members were frequently trained on our MDP programme. The last two years new youth entrepreneurs of this cluster were trained. Agri Academy also assisted this cluster to obtain GlobalGAP and HACCP accreditation.

Plett Cluster: Turnover – R10 000 000 Plettenberg bay: Eden

This small holder farmers organised in a trust as legal entiry joined the Agri Academy development programmes since 2005. Members were enrolled for various of our programmes – our MDP, Agri Match to secure market access to Germany through fair trade accreditation, Cluster formation and AgriAppi youth exchange programme with berry farmers in Germany.

Success – this cluster diversified from only producing honeybush tea for Fair Trade markets in Europe and Canada, to a focus on rabbits (confirmed buyers), vegetables, goats and pigs. A nursery where they plant Sceletium (also known as “kanna” or kougoed) under licence further ensures business viability. The past two years Agri Academy assisted them through coaching to establish an out grower scheme with two small holder farmer groups Hakerville and Calitzdorp. This to enable them to meet the increasing demand of their medicinal plants

Grasp Cluster: Turnover – R15 000 000 Ba Phalaborwa: Limpopo

This group of farmers initially start with eight farmers on the MDP programme. Agri Academy trained, coach and assist them with netting, livestock and seeds. They attended the cluster
workshops and grew from strength to strength. Young youth agripreneurs as children from existing cluster members attended the Agri Appi programme. They are now operation small holder farmers.

Success – this cluster succeed in growing in use of arable land and diversification of crops. A separate female cooperative were formed from the cluster. SA Agri Academy negotiated an R 5 000 000 infrastructure deal for these female farmers inclusive of market access. Implementation February 2023.