The year kicked off to a promising start for small farmers in Makhathini Flats, Jozini, after FoodBank South Africa (FBSA) purchased from the farmers a R60,000 consignment of their produce. The transaction – FBSA’s first Agri-FoodBank procurement deal – has injected much-needed cash and more than a dash of hope into the impoverished farming community.
In terms of the procurement deal, FBSA purchased from the farmers 26 tonnes of fresh produce – 15 tonnes of butternut, five tonnes of sweet potato and six tonnes of cabbage – and distributed it to the organisation’s 123 agencies in KwaZulu-Natal. Collectively these agencies serve about 24,000 beneficiaries.
Dennis Nyawo was one of the farmers to benefit from the deal: “We have no way of getting our produce to the market – which is 400 kilometres away. FoodBank is trying to help us access the market, which will benefit the entire farming community and has the potential to lead to a better life for all.”
Dennis said the deal will have long-term spin-offs as well. “Having a buyer for my produce provides me with the opportunity to grow from a small farmer into a better entrepreneur, maybe even a big commercial farmer,” he says.
The deal was made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and the help of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, which played a key role in helping FBSA identify and engage with small farmers in Jozini.
In addition, Campbell’s Cargo, a KZN-based local transport company, transported the produce from Jozini to FBSA’s hub in Durban free of charge. The job would have cost between R10,000 and R12,000.
Rob Campbell, the proprietor of Campbell’s Cargo, is a long-serving Rotarian. As such, he has an intimate knowledge of the work of FoodBank. The Rotary Club has representation on FBSA’s Board of Members, and has supported and partnered with FBSA since its inception.
“We’re only too pleased to assist when the opportunity enables us to do so,” said Rob. “Too often people balk at the scale of the challenges facing us. But if we all just do the little bit we can then the sum of the parts add up to meeting the larger challenge. We’re grateful for organisations like FoodBank, which takes on these challenges.”
Jeroen de Lijster, the managing director of FBSA, said the collaboration between all parties involved in the deal demonstrated what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together towards a common goal. “When we work together to feed the hungry and uplift the poor, everyone benefits in some way.”
