1. By Dimakatso Sekhoto (Nono) Director March 2017
Brussels Policy Briefing: Creating Opportunities for rural youth in transforming food system Opportunities for young entrepreneurs in serving urban or semi-urban markets By
Dimakatso Sekhoto (Nono)
Director
March 2017

2. Sub-Saharan Africa’s youth population is increasing, with the 15- to 24-year-old age group at 200 million, a figure that is expected to double by 2045, according to population experts. But agriculture could potentially provide enough food and jobs.
AfricaRenewel Magazine
“Denting youth unemployment through agriculture”
NEPAD, the African Union’s development agency, calls youth unemployment a “time bomb.”

3. Nono Sekhoto Background: 7 year career in financial services industry
2011 Joined my father at our commercial farm (2,100 ha) in Free State: experience in dairy, apples, beef, sheep, plant maize and sunflower
Scholarship in business course: and Agricultural Enterprise Management Certificate
Rural and Agricultural Finance, Training course at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
Exploring the Agricultural Sector
Established GrowthShoot: focused on empowering youth in agriculture
African Farmers Association of SA (AFASA), NEC member youth coordinator
Presidential Youth Working Group, Representing agriculture
Featured on BBC Focus Africa, radios, newspapers,
Connecting with young farmer in SA on Facebook Group, 850 members
Makolobane Farmers Enterprises, Senekal, RSA

4. Exploring the Agricultural Sector
Presidential
Youth Working Group, Pta
Exploring the Agricultural Sector
Keynote Speaker at GCARD3
With Minister of Agriculture Rwanda
& SACAU President, Durban
DAFF Minister and Deputy, Pta
BBC Africa Focus
Makolobane’s Farmers Day with MEC of
Agriculture FS
Professional Fellows Congress, DC
Oklahoma State University Fellows, US
TEDxWomen Speaker, Pta

5. Opportunities in South Africa
Current issues:
Unemployment rate as high as 25%, youth unemployment almost 40% - black population being the most affected
High poverty in rural areas
Massive inequalities and huge disparity between the rich and poor (black population dominant in the poor communities)
Solutions by the Government to fast track participation of black population in the economy
National Development Plan
Aims to increase productivity in the country thereby increasing job opportunities
Agriculture identified as one of the sectors can produce high level of new jobs
Bias to develop women and youth
Black Economic Empowerment Policy
Forces established large businesses to score points if they help to development SME: skills development, supplier chain inclusion, provide soft loan / grants, mentorships etc.
In agriculture – his is directed at developing smallholder farmers to be integrated into the supplier chain (Enterprise & Supplier Development)
Higher points scored for developing black women and black youth (the most affected)

6. Opportunities in South Africa
Solutions by the Government to fast track participation of black population in the economy (Focus on agriculture)
Land Reform and Land Claims Policy
Aims to provide access to land to previously displaced and previously disadvantaged communities
Government buys up land (mostly farm land) and distributes to the black population
Resultant issues from land transfers
Working farms transferred to unskilled black individuals and communities
Poorly managed farms leading to wasted potential
Inappropriate or insufficient farmer support for new farmers
Large number of productive farms becoming vacant
Large number of new farmers are incapable of participating in the sector meaningfully
My identified opportunity:
Large number of youth who live on such farms, interested to remain and work on these farms but have very limited access to farmer support

7. Access to mechanization
Understanding the Young Smallholder Farmer in SA
Needs
Wants
Attitude
Capabilities
Income
To be self reliant
Eager to learn
Limited skills
Basic services
Successful
Hopeful / Positive
Hard working
Farmer support
Help family
Willing to accept help
Literate &
tech savvy
Challenges
Have access to
Access to skills
Access to markets
Arable land
(10 to ha)
Water
Access to finance
Collaborations
Registered business
Mobile Communication
Access to mechanization
Work vs Home
Labour
Internet

8. Connecting with Young Farmers

9. Linking Rural to Urban – Linking Young Farmers to Opportunities
Objectives of the model
Identify commodity and relevant stakeholders with respect to commodity
Create a programme centered around the commodity
Create ecosystem around the commodity with stakeholders support to provide access to: finance, market, training, shared capacity, mentorship and on-going support
Identify young farmers to participate in the programme
Ongoing monitoring of the programme

10. GrowthShoot - Aggregator Model

11. GrowthShoot Partners for the Rabbit Farming Project
Access to Market (Export)
Access to Finance
Technical Skills
Business Support Services
Shared Inputs, Infrastructure & Logistics costs
Access to Land
Exposure to Farmers
A.T. Kearney
Management Consulting

12. Young Farmers Potato Planting Project
Access to Market (Export) & Logistics
Finance & Insurance
Technical Skills & Mentorship
Business Support Services
Shared Inputs, & Logistics costs
Infrastructure Equipment
Exposure to Farmers

13. Standard Bank – Young Farmers Support

14. Conclusion Thank you Established businesses have a major role to play
Immediate intervention required for young farmers to participate meaningfully
Innovative ideas will most likely come from the youth – so listen!
Looking to partner up with Investors, established farmers and agri-businesses
AFASA NEC
AFASA Youth, at AFGRI Head Office
John Deere Head Office
Thank you