Farming collaboration set to benefit Makgoba community

The Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency has joined forces with commercial farmers ZZ2 and the Makgoba-Mamphoko Trust in Limpopo to launch a multi-million rand avocado farm project. The project, funded through the Khula Credit Guarantee Scheme and a commercial bank, aims to benefit over 600 members of the Makgoba community outside Tzaneen.

Letlatsa Lehana from the Khula Credit Guarantee Scheme explained that the current land is phase two, with plans to expand to 90 hectares. The project will start with 40 hectares and then expand the rest, due to its proximity to the river for easier irrigation. Lehana added that the European market is the primary goal for this expansion.

Bertie Van Zyl, director of ZZ2, stated that the funding model was crafted by the private sector and SEFDA, partnering with commercial farmer ZZ2. The overall objective is to help the Makgoba community successfully venture into avocado farming. Van Zyl mentioned that Sapekoe, one of the areas with an iconic tea estate, was transferred to Makgoba in 2022.

ZZ2 and FNB bank, through the securities of Khula, co-founded the first commercial project in 2018, making it logical to utilize this entity for the expansion of the avocado farm.