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“We will take advantage of this new knowledge for growing organically, and about existing & potential market linkages to upgrade our organic value chains. We will work to build Contract Farming arrangements and Private Public Partnerships with market actors we have potential to reach. This will upgrade our skills to transact with more lucrative and guaranteed markets and improve access to product innovations, new technologies, training, inputs, services and credit which ultimately enhance quantity and quality of our production cost-effectively. It is also imperative that we initiate locally managed Internal Savings and Lending Schemes to improve our access to finance. We now understand what we were lacking.”

‘The demand is solid and growing. Now we need to link these pioneering farmers with investors to increase product supply’.

“Through the financial benefits of this project I am now positively looking forward to financing my children’s school fees with the money l get from organic production.”

When Mountain of Hope produced ‘baby marrow’ to meet their first supermarket order, each fruit grew beyond the required size. When exceeding this size, it is sometimes known as courgette or zucchini, and as such has a market. As this product is less appreciated at local growth points, it was used as animal feed or composted. The association has since successfully produced over 19,000 pallets of vegetables which have reached the shelves of TM, Spa and OK.

“We have realized that it is critical to take cognizance of the fact that all market actors in a value chain play an important role and all need to make profit if they are to continue playing that role. We have to drive out the waiting mode and dependency syndrome in the communities we come from. The underlying idea of this market development programme is to facilitate creation of win-win outcomes for all market chain actors.”

On my 1.5ha plot, I began with a market survey and found that if I produced lettuce, I would get a good price. Now I supply the demand for cabbage, peppers and tomatoes too. I harvest 300kg of tomatoes and 1,800 heads of cabbage per week, and succession plant 4,000 seeds per fortnight. I sell to a range of buyers to spread my risks – from large outlets, local supermarkets, and individuals. I am committed to organic farming and have access to local chicken manure which has helped to increase my yields. I now earn $3,000 per month, and employ three full time staff, as well as casual labour.