Farmer Development Based On Solid Plans

In 2019, professional services company Optimal Agricultural Business Systems (OABS) launched its Integrated Farmer Development Programme to facilitate sustainable transformation in agriculture. Daan Louw, chairperson of OABS, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the programme.

- Glenneis Kriel

Why did OABS launch the development programme?

We’ve been managing and implementing the Domestic and International Market Readiness and Market Access Programme of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture since it was launched about a decade ago. Unfortunately, funds for the programme had to be reprioritised due to budgetary constraints.

With more than 10 years’ experience in farmer support and development, we found it plausible to continue supporting developing farmers as we’d established good relationships and an understanding of the situation over the years.

Tell us more about OABS’s experience in farmer development.

The name of the market access programme is actually quite misleading, as the programme focused not only on the opening of markets, but also on market readiness. Market access has actually become easier for emerging farmers over the past few years, because many retailers are looking for suppliers that will help improve their B-BBEE scorecards.

The problem is that production needs to be financially sustainable, and produce should be in constant supply and comply with certain quality and food and safety standards. We’ve actually spent a lot of time helping these farmers become marketready, for example by identifying and evaluating pitfalls such as poor access to water, developing realistic business plans, and taking this a step further by supporting the implementation of the business plans.

We’ve supported about 75 farmers with the programme over the past 10 years.

OABS is also involved in the implementation of National Treasury Jobs Fund projects. How did this come about?