On a warm winter’s morning, a tractor slowly navigates the rows of potato plants, spraying chemicals in preparation for the next harvest on Mazeli Farm, located in the foothills of the Blouberg in north western Limpopo.
In another time, such a sight was unthinkable on a black-owned farm like this one run by Zelda Tsakane Masoga and her family. Black farmers, deprived of resources and opportunities due to the ugly legacy of land dispossession and racial exclusion, had little choice but to till the land using rudimentary tools and age-old farming methods.
But now the Kgodiso Development Fund is helping to change that. The Kgodiso Fund, which was founded by food and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo, says it “aims to transform the South African agricultural landscape by developing a new generation of sustainable farming enterprises. It aspires to empower black farmers through funding, business development, and increased access to the market.”
PepsiCo launched the Fund, with an initial investment of R600 million “in order to enhance effective, market-driven programs, co-create innovative solutions alongside key partners and scale the impact through catalytic investments.”
Before the intervention of the Kgodiso Fund, Mazeli, like scores of other black run farms, had no resources. Their office was in the shade of a massive marula tree located on the property. Now the farm, formally established in 2017, boasts a modern shed which provides storage for chemicals, equipment and also serves as an office and a pack house during the harvesting period.
“Kgodiso [Fund] assisted a lot. They came to us when we had nothing. They helped us a lot. They gave us seeds and money, they are actually doing everything,” said Masoga.
PepsiCo which manufacturers among other products potato chips, tortilla chips, cereals, and a variety of snacks also supports the farmers by procuring tons of their potato harvest.
Kgodiso Fund board chairman Setlakalane Molepo acknowledged the progress made by farmers supported through the initiative.
“Half the time when you arrive, people tell you there is a project here, and you never see a sign of where the money was invested. So this is a great achievement and milestone, but equally we want to say thank you to PepsiCo, who have committed to this journey to see to it that black farmers that are so-called start-ups can graduate to become commercial farmers to a level at which they can produce for the nation,” Molepo said, highlighting the solid infrastructure set up by one of the beneficiaries, Torofina Farm, also in the Blouberg.
Torofina farm, run by Phophi Raletjena in De Vrede village also in the Blouberg, is also a beneficiary of the Kgodiso Fund’s programme. It was established in 2005 as a vegetable farm but now specialises in potato farming and production.
Raletjena experimented with various crops and egg production before landing a deal that catapulted him into his current crop, potato. He was assisted on his journey, which was not without its challenges, by various players, including Potatoes South Africa, the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, PepsiCo, and the Kgodiso Development Fund.
The farm, which also started from humble beginnings, is a shining example of what can be achieved when effort, commitment and discipline match dreams. It boasts state-of-the-art machinery, tractors, a large warehouse and shed.
“The foundation of starting any business is who wants what, and how much; and how much is it prepared to pay for that,” Raletjena advised.
