By Simthandile Ponti
On the 27th of March 2025, Simthandile Ponti attended an Information Day hosted by Land Bank in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Land Reform. The workshop was held in Langkloof, a few kilometres outside Uniondale, and brought together over 55 farmers from George, Uniondale, Mossel Bay, and Oudtshoorn.
The session aimed to inform emerging smallholder farmers about the available support mechanisms and financial opportunities. Land Bank, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, introduced a blended finance scheme designed to accelerate agricultural development and increase participation across the sector. This initiative supports the growth of agricultural enterprises and promotes inclusive access to the agricultural value chain.
In addition, Land Bank launched a new financing model focused on risk mitigation. This model offers extended loan terms to ease cash flow constraints and improve overall financial stability for farmers. Some funding opportunities include a grant component, especially for farmers that meet specific empowerment criteria. This model is part of a broader commitment to transforming and strengthening the agricultural sector.
The Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Land Reform is running a programme, and the aim of the programme is to capacitate unemployed rural youth in various skills and to facilitate their transition to meaningfully contribute towards vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural economies. One of the beneficiaries of this programme also attended the workshop. She now runs her own business of manufacturing fruit and vegetable crates to sell to neighbouring farmers.
In addition, Western Cape Department of Agriculture offers the Financial Record-Keeping Programme and its mainly responsible for assisting farmers with a well-functioning, complete and accurate financial record keeping system. This is very important to the farmer as it determines whether the farmer is moving up or going down.
Simthandile Ponti gave a presentation on behalf of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR). The presentation outlined GCBR’s work in supporting farmers through sustainable land management practices, climate resilience efforts, and capacity building. GCBR’s initiatives aim to enhance productivity, restore natural landscapes, and offer practical tools to strengthen farming livelihoods. The presentation was well received, with several farmers expressing interest in learning more about GCBR’s work and potential collaborations.
Overall, the workshop created a valuable platform for knowledge exchange. Farmers actively engaged with stakeholders, asked questions, and explored solutions to the challenges they face. Other organisations in attendance included Casidra, SARS, Die Lusern Trust, SSK, and SEDFA.
The GCBR extends its sincere gratitude to Land Bank for the invitation to participate in this important engagement. The event reinforced the power of collaboration in driving agricultural innovation, support and resilience within the region.
