The ANC is committed to supporting the growth of rural market institutions by empowering small farmers to access markets and build links with formal sector value chains.
Thus the ANC welcomes the recent official launch of Massmart's Ezemvelo, Direct Farm Programme in Tzaneen and Maruleng, with the aim of identifying, developing, and supporting small farmers in order for them to supply Massmart with fresh produce on an ongoing basis.
This programme represents an investment of more than R15 million, and it includes training, mentoring, technical assistance, and establishing essential links with both finance and retail markets.
Moreover, Massmart has signed a three-year supplier development agreement with NGO TechnoServe SA, which will ultimately link small farmers directly to Massmart stores. This initiative will assist in job creation, whilst also contributing to the economic empowerment of participating farmers.
The ANC believes that this initiative is in line with its objective to improve the productivity of existing small-scale and subsistence farmers, and to integrate smallholders into formal value chains and link them with markets.