The Brussels Development Briefing no. 48 on “Strengthening rural livelihoods in the face of rapid urbanisation in Africa” took place on 20th March 2017 from 14:00 to 18:00, at the ACP Secretariat (Avenue Georges Henri 451, 1200 Brussels, Room C). This Briefing was co-organised by CTA, BMZ/GIZ, the ACP Secretariat, European Commission (DG DEVCO) and Concord

1. BrusselsPolicyBriefing:
Creating Opportunitiesfor rural youthin
transformingfoodsystem
Opportunitiesforyoungentrepreneursinservingurbanorsemi-urbanmarkets
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
Oklahoma State University Fellows, US
Professional Fellows Congress, DC
Makolobane’s Farmers Day with MEC of
Agriculture FS
DAFF Minister and Deputy, Pta
TEDxWomen Speaker, Pta
Keynote Speaker at GCARD3
BBC Africa Focus
Presidential
Youth Working Group, Pta
With Minister of Agriculture Rwanda
& SACAU President, Durban

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. 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 +1000 ha)
Water
Access to finance Collaborations Registered business Mobile
Communication
Access to
mechanization
Work vs Home Labour Internet

8. Connecting with Young Farmers

9. 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
Linking Rural to Urban – Linking Young Farmers to Opportunities

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
- 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 Youth, at AFGRI Head Office John Deere Head Office
AFASA NEC
Thank you