Our Partners
Kidlinks Small Farm Incubator (KSFI)
Kidlinks Small Farm Incubator (KSFI) operates as a Non-Profit Company (NPO) established in 2020. Situated in Kaysers Beach, approximately 30km south of East London in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, the organization focuses on three key areas of transformation:
1. Food security
2. Youth unemployment
3. Climate change mitigation
The core mission of KSFI revolves around providing training to youth and local communities in sustainable crop and livestock farming techniques. This includes practices such as rotational grazing, soil health improvement, invasive species management, and crop diversification. KSFI is committed to making a positive impact on livelihoods through the principles of regenerative agriculture, environmental awareness, community-centered education, social learning, and targeted skills development.
Furthermore, KSFI actively supports and promotes community-based initiatives through its KSFI Aggregator platform. This platform serves as a link between small-scale farmers and market gardeners, facilitating access to markets for their produce. Additionally, KSFI holds the distinction of being a co-founder of the East London Organic Market.
The Agricultural Research Council
As a premier scientific institution, the ARC is committed to conducting research, developing human capital, and fostering innovation to advance the agricultural sector. Among its primary functions are conducting and promoting research, technology development, and technology transfer, as well as facilitating the dissemination of its expertise and research findings. Additionally, the ARC collaborates with various stakeholders and authorities to promote research and technology development, while also emphasizing the importance of training research workers to enhance capacity within the sector.
TFour employees from Glen, Bloemfontein, namely Thomas Mandries, Tshepo Moshounyane, Elias Sebolai, and Carel Wessels, participated in the Amanzi for Food Training of Trainers Course in May 2020 and has since joined the Amanzi for Food Learning Network at a supportive capacity and anticipates collaborating closely with the Amanzi for Food network members and project in the future.
WESSA
WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), a respected leader in environmental conservation and education across the country, boasting a rich 98-year-old legacy, continues to pioneer innovative approaches to environmental stewardship.
As leaders in the wildlife and environment space WESSA remains dedicated to shaping a sustainable future through its diverse range of programmes including education, advocacy, and action initiatives.
Agri-farming and skills programme:
WESSA has made a significant impact in the agricultural training sector through its innovative programmes aimed at promoting sustainable farming practices. By collaborating with agricultural institutions, community organisations, and partners, WESSA has facilitated training workshops, field demonstrations, and educational resources that empower farmers with the knowledge and skills to adopt eco-friendly farming methods, conserve natural resources, and mitigate environmental degradation.
In a significant stride toward enhancing local food security, a group of 20 previously unemployed KwaZulu-Natal youth graduated from a recent agricultural skills-training initiative which was instrumental in uplifting these youth from unemployment and poverty.
The project immersed aspiring farmers, (referred to as ambassadors), in a two-year practical training programme across four Eco-Hubs situated in the Amangwe, uMkhoma, uMhlathuze, and Madlankala communities. Corporate funding facilitated the development of farming infrastructure and provided essential learning materials.
The project, equipped these graduates with extensive training in sustainable farming practices and small, medium, and micro-enterprise (SMME) development. Through the hands-on training sessions and capacity-building programmes, WESSA has helped agricultural practitioners improve crop yields, reduce chemical inputs, implement water-saving techniques, and enhance soil health, leading to increased productivity, resilience, and profitability in farming communities. Additionally, WESSA’s emphasis on conservation agriculture has fostered a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability among farmers.
Hlaziyeka (Nobahle Tsengiwe)
At present, Hlaziyeka Pty Ltd engages in various agricultural activities, including maize farming and managing piggery and poultry operations. The company employs four full-time workers and hires an additional two casual workers during peak seasons. Their produce is distributed to both local communities and markets.
Participating in Amanzi for Food has proven beneficial for Hlaziyeka Pty Ltd. By being part of this initiative, they have gained valuable insights, exchanged ideas, and learned effective methods for sustaining their food production and enhancing sales within the community.
Phawu Likum AgriFarm
Bakhusele Mathupha and his partner Lulu Mputa collaborate with Phawu Likum AgriPak. At this Rural co-operative, Lulu serves as the Female co-founder alongside nine other women and three gentlemen. Together, they focus on addressing food security, environmental sustainability, and greening initiatives. They have actively participated in constructing a Food Forest and providing training to members of the Phawu Agripak Co-operative in Willowvale, located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Facilitating workshops on creating market gardens using permaculture principles is also a significant aspect of their work.
Phawu Likum AgriPak operates as a Rural Agroecology project, advocating for and implementing Permaculture principles in communal spaces to foster a healthier, more sustainable environment. This endeavour aims to educate communities and individuals about the advantages of Food Forests, Water Harvesting, and Conservation practices, simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and revitalizing the local surroundings.
In a personal quest for self-improvement and empowerment, Bakhusele Mathupha engaged with Amanzi for Food via social media, expressing interest in the free online Training of Trainers course in Rain Water Harvesting and Conservation (RWH&C). After enrolling in and completing the course, he obtained his certificate and is now eager to disseminate the knowledge and skills acquired to a broader audience. His plans include hosting permaculture/agroforestry courses with a particular focus on water harvesting and conservation. Bakhusele Mathupha expresses gratitude for the significant partnership with Amanzi for Food, acknowledging its importance in furthering their initiatives.
Mahlathini Development Foundation
Mahlathini, founded in 2003, is an NGO focused on promoting sustainable agricultural practices among smallholder farmers. Led by Ms. Erna Kruger and Mr. Mazwi Dlamini, the organization specializes in supporting smallholder farmers across provinces like the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo. Mahlathini implements a holistic approach, encompassing the entire agricultural value chain, microfinance solutions, and sustainable land management practices such as conservation agriculture, organic food production, and rainwater harvesting. Their efforts are underpinned by a commitment to climate change adaptation and resilience, with recent additions to their portfolio including integrated water management and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies.
Through a participatory innovation development learning system, Mahlathini collaborates closely with farmers and facilitators to experiment, learn, and implement best practices within their communities. This action research approach allows for careful assessment and monitoring of practices tailored to local contexts. Furthermore, Mahlathini has played a pivotal role in shaping the Amanzi for Food program, contributing to its development and providing learners with access to its courses. Committed to advancing this collaborative effort, Mahlathini aims to further enrich the program’s offerings and materials, fostering sustainable agricultural practices and resilience in farming communities.
Zingisa Educational Project
Zingisa Educational Project in a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which is based in Berlin, in the Buffalo City Metro Municipality, Eastern Cape. We also operate in Amahlathi, Ngqushwa and Raymond Mhlaba local municipalities. We work closely with small-scale producers in advancing agroecology. Zingisa facilitated the formation of a farmers’ association known as Ilizwi Lamafama. The organisation also deals with advocacy on issues affecting small-scale producers. Such issues include water access, land access, input support and establishment of local markets.
Zingisa is part of a learning network called Imvotho Bubomi Learning Network. Edmore Parichi, the coordinator for the Food Sovereignty Stream, was also trained in rainwater harvesting and conservation through the Amanzi for Food programme. In this programme, the organisation was tasked to establish productive learning sites of which they deed successfully. The sites were established in Berlin, Dimbaza and Quzini. Through the same programme, the organisation was equipped with skills to venture into other rainwater harvesting techniques such as diversion channels, small dams (amadanyana), mulching, rooftop rainwater harvesting and trench beds. Rainwater harvesting and conservation has thus enabled the producers that we work with to continue with production activities both the wet and the dry season. Since the training, lessons learnt have been used as part of the climate change mitigation strategies in our training workshops.