The Greater Kruger region of South Africa experiences severe unemployment, with 15-24 year olds making up 70% of all those unemployed in Mpumalanga. Our goal is to equip young adults with theoretically and practically business skill sets to identify and establish entrepreneurial opportunities. We run an Agro-Ecology focused business training program with specific focus on climate resilient indigenous crops. This leads into food-stuffs product development and small business start-up support.
The Greater Kruger region of South Africa experiences severe unemployment. The cycle of poor education, poverty and health issues create an environment in which communities struggle to escape. Youth in the area are often left without the skills or training to be able to get jobs and create a stable income. Rural communities also struggle with successful small enterprise start-ups which further contributes to the unemployment in the area and an increase in poverty levels.
Farmers of the Future is an Agro-Ecology Small Business training program. The 18 month program is divided into 3 phases. Phase 1 Business Training: Basic Business Concepts and Agro-Ecology Training. Phase 2 Business Incubator: Product Development and Income Generation. Phase 3 Business Start-up and Management, where participants can access start-up funding for completing the course and join the Farmers of the Future supply network.
Farmers of the Future remains actively involved through mentorship after the program is completed and a business is started. As part of the Farmers of the Future supply network farmers have access to marketplaces which would be hard to find and navigate by themselves. This ensures sustainability in the long term vision and building of their new business.
