For an emerging farmer, the useful question is not simply where to find training. It is whether the training addresses a costly farm problem—and whether the farmer can turn what is learned into a stronger production plan, a commercial relationship or a fundable investment. South Africa’s current mentorship initiatives offer starting points, but their value depends on practical follow-through: clear records, measurable goals and partners who stay involved beyond a workshop.
Start with a specific production or business gap
At the 9 October grain and livestock conference in Bothaville, Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp identified Grain SA’s Phahama Grain Phakama as a programme supporting developing grain farmers through mentorship, training and technical support. He called for partnerships that provide shared equipment, contract production, storage and market access. Nova News reported his remarks. For a farmer considering the programme, the practical move is to approach Grain SA with a defined need—such as technical guidance, equipment access or help meeting production requirements—and ask what support is available locally and how progress is assessed.
That specificity matters. A generic request for assistance is harder to turn into a workable plan than a documented constraint: for example, which operation is delayed, what equipment is needed, what it will cost, and how the investment is expected to affect output or sales. MaxMedia’s guidance is to map the farm’s real bottleneck, then approach the relevant institution with records, a costed plan and targeted questions. Land, finance, skills and buyers are connected; solving one in isolation may not make the enterprise viable.
Use mentorship to build commercial habits
During his visit to Redlands Dairy Farm, President Cyril Ramaphosa named Farmers for Africa, Phahama Grain Phakama and the Citrus Growers Association’s Vision 260 as formal mentorship initiatives for emerging farmers. He emphasised knowledge transfer from established commercial farmers. Vision 260 aims for black farmers to capture a notable share of exports by 2032, according to the President’s address.
Mentorship is more useful when it has an operating rhythm: agreed goals, regular technical contact and a way to review results. Botlhale Tshabalala’s experience shows why business discipline belongs in that relationship. Starting with 15 hectares of communal land, he formalised his business and improved tax compliance and record-keeping before securing an NWK production loan; support also included technical advisers, agronomists, study groups and mentorship. Farmers can ask prospective mentors or commercial partners what support accompanies any finance, what records they expect, and how frequently they will review the farm’s progress.
Match finance to a credible plan
The same Redlands visit put a concrete funding route back in focus. Ramaphosa described the Land Bank–Department of Agriculture Blended Finance Scheme, launched in 2022 as a ten-year intervention for black producers. It combines government grants with loan finance and can support farm acquisition, infrastructure, livestock, dairy equipment, mechanisation and working capital. The President cited the scheme during the visit, as reported by the South African Government.
The scheme’s breadth makes it important to match the request to a viable operating plan. A farmer seeking dairy equipment, for instance, should be ready to explain the production need, associated costs and how the farm will meet repayment obligations. Finance alone cannot create the skills, partnerships and day-to-day systems that make an operation sustainable; dairy in particular requires long-term partners, training and practical support.
Farmers should also confirm application status directly with Land Bank before making investment commitments. MaxMedia’s earlier guidance noted that new applications had been paused after the 2026/27 grant allocation was fully committed, while government said it was working to restore full funding operations. A later announcement about the scheme’s purpose does not itself establish that applications have reopened.
Make training solve a measurable problem
Training can be highly specific and still affect a farm’s ability to grow. On 30 September, the Mohair Empowerment Trust hosted predation-management training in Robert Sobukwe Town. Farmers learned to identify problem animals, understand causes of livestock losses and consider management methods. The focus was on protecting young stock and retaining replacement animals—an important step in building herds and progressing towards commercial production, Farmers Weekly reported.
The wider lesson is to connect skills support to a farm outcome. Before attending a course, identify the loss or constraint it is meant to reduce; afterwards, record what action was taken and whether the problem changed. This is also useful when speaking to mentors, lenders or commercial partners: evidence of the problem and the response makes the next request more concrete. As MaxMedia’s practical guidance puts it, technical advice works best alongside formal records and partnerships that remain engaged after an initial investment.
Turn the next conversation into a route forward
A farmer can make the first approach to a programme more productive by bringing a short farm profile: land access and tenure, current production and sales records, the main technical or infrastructure constraint, a costed request, and the intended buyer or production outlet. Then ask the organisation what eligibility requirements apply, what follow-up support is provided, and what milestones will demonstrate progress. Where a cooperative or commercial partner is involved, clarify who supplies advice, equipment or inputs, and how performance and payments are recorded. These steps do not guarantee funding or a contract, but they help connect training to the decisions that determine whether a farm can operate and grow.
Key points
- Approach Phahama Grain Phakama with a defined technical or business gap and ask what support is available in your area.
- Use mentorship to set measurable goals and build the records, compliance and planning lenders and partners need.
- The Blended Finance Scheme combines grants and loans for a range of farm investments, but confirm current application status with Land Bank before committing.
- Choose training that addresses a specific farm risk or production constraint, then record the actions taken and results.