With the global population set to double in the coming decades, Southern Africa’s availability of arable land gives the region potential to be a key centre of agricultural production and contributor to improved food security.
Southern Africa
Region Southern Africa
Solidaridad Southern Africa manages programmes in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 218 million people live in extreme poverty, with the majority of the region’s populations living in rural areas and dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Developments
Southern Africa has experienced significant economic growth over recent years. However, benefits accruing from these investments in the region have mostly excluded the rural poor.
With the majority of Southern Africa’s population living in rural areas and dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods, smallholder producers and their communities portray, contrary to economic growth trends, higher levels of inequality.
Recent trends show that the need for effective and sustainable solutions to these developments are gradually being recognized by power holders in the region.
Smallholder producers, and women and youth in particular, are increasingly prioritized in policy as the future of agricultural and economic development and there is also an increased consumer-led demand for more sustainable produce.
Opportunities have therefore arisen for smallholders to feed into local supply chains, but in order to do this, they require support and access to services to apply better practices to ensure their produce to meets international standards.
Challenges
Economic, climatic and physical factors, such as variable rainfall combined with unsustainable agricultural practices, constitute the most important immediate causes of the degradation of the soil and water resource base upon which future agricultural output in Southern Africa depends.
Unsustainable agriculture causes huge losses to the economies of some countries through declining agricultural production, a loss of food security, mass migrations, rapid urbanisation and an increased need for governments to import food.
Ineffective administration and a lack of resources in remote regions of Southern Africa mean that smallholder producers battle to access or are not able to invest in external inputs that improve livelihoods and help remedy unsustainable land use.
Solidaridad works to improve smallholder knowledge on sustainable practices and provide innovative technologies and solutions to change and reverse unsustainable land use that have compounded the devastating effects of climate change in the region.
Achievements
The cluster model for Better Cotton Initiative smallholders in Mozambique has seen an average yield increase of over 100% amongst cluster farmers compared to non-cluster farmers.
The Farmer Support Programme in Swaziland trained smallholder sugarcane producers in business skills and natural resource management, improving smallholders’ income and the number of areas under sustainable land use.
Solidaridad has supported local barley smallholders produce and supply Heineken with local, sustainable barley. Solidaridad has also established offices in Mozambique and Zambia as well as a presence in Malawi, further expanding its reach in the region.
Solidaridad’s partnership with Concern Universal in the Farmer Support Programme in Malawi improved grower organizations capacity as well as smallholder technical capacity resulting in an 85% adoption rate of sustainable farming practices.
Solidaridad Southern Africa will continue to use digital solutions adapted to the Southern African context and has gained the interest of some key players in the fruit and vegetables and sugarcane sectors.
Programmes Regional commodities
Economic, environmental and sociopolitical conditions are rapidly changing in Solidaridad's focus countries. These changes were driven by the shifts in global markets and the effects of climate change.
- Cotton
Producing sustainable cotton
In Mozambique, Solidaridad has successfully worked with one of the largest cotton producing companies, João Ferreira dos Santos (JFS), since 2012 to ensure smallholder cotton producers are equipped to produce more sustainable cotton. As the programme has grown, Solidaridad has focussed on improving infrastructure and the application of innovative cultivation techniques to enhance smallholder yields and better environmental management.
- Sugarcane
Improving land and water use
Southern Africa produces 75% of the continent’s sugarcane harvested by large and small-scale producers. The sugarcane programme in Southern Africa has focused on Malawi and South Africa and works with over 3,000 smallholder sugarcane producers in vulnerable areas in the Komati region to improve their irrigated water use efficiency. In Malawi, land shortages pose challenges for sugarcane expansion.
- Fruit & Vegetables
Accessing the market
The horticulture programme aims to contribute to the upskilling and commercialisation of smallholder producers in the sector in Southern Africa. With the goal of improving local and regional market integration and coordination along the horticulture value chain, partnerships with supermarket chains in the region have been initiated and strengthened with a focus on how best to reach smallholder producers at their level and need, to ensure inclusivity in the value chain.
- Soy
Supporting good agriculture
Much like other regions of the world, smallholder soy producers in Southern Africa often suffer from low productivity. Solidaridad's soy programme began in an effort to address this challenge and improve smallholders’ livelihoods and sustainable farming practices. The first project began in Mozambique in 2012 with the goal of improving smallholder production management, thereby increasing productivity and improving soil conservation.
- Livestock
Learning livestock management
While a growing middle class in the Southern African region has led to a steady growth in the demand for animal protein, livestock producers have faced significant challenges in terms of the drought that has affected the region for the past couple of years. The livestock programme aims to support livestock producers to improve management that can increase productivity and efficiency while simultaneously helping to reverse land degradation that has occurred across the region from unsustainable grazing patterns.
Partners Social & Ecological Responsibility
Reconciling social and ecological responsibility with market and supply chain realities allows Solidaridad to work closely with a range of stakeholders.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Netherlands
South African Sugar Research Institute
SPAR
Global Protein Solutions
Food Lover's Market
Meatco
Cotton South Africa
Track record Southern Africa through the years
Southern Africa is affected by political and economic instability with widespread corruption. Many countries are classified as Least Developed Countries and receive funding from sources such as the OECD. Applying standards and aid-for-trade arrangements are becoming more relevant for middle-income countries in the region.
2018
Southern Africa is a food-importing region and imports have been growing in recent years due to economic growth. Expansion of the middle and upper classes in Africa will continue and it presents a huge opportunity for local farmers and entrepreneurs. Linking the economic growth of the cities to opportunities in rural Africa is a major challenge for the years ahead. Solidaridad Southern Africa is exploring how to make the most of this opportunity.
Solidaridad Southern Africa has experienced an exciting year of learning and growth. The team has expanded, which has improved its expertise of critical innovation areas. A number of programmes were concluded in 2017 and this provided great opportunity for reflection. Going forward, Solidaridad is well-poised to take its strengthened team, new insights and learning, and embark on programmes in key commodities across the region.
2016
Climate change had devastating effects on the region with Southern Africa experiencing its second rain-scarce season, leaving over 29 million people food insecure. With the majority of these populations living in rural areas and reliant on natural resources, addressing climate change through the inclusion of smallholder farmers and promotion of sustainable agriculture practices is at the forefront of Solidaridad’s mission.
2015
Solidaridad Southern Africa had a very interesting and challenging year. There was a major internal change at senior management level while external economic, environmental and sociopolitical conditions were rapidly changing in the focus countries. These changes were driven by the shifts in global markets and the effects of climate change. Solidaridad continued its work in the cotton, fruits, vegetables, livestock, sugarcane and soy sectors.
2014
Southern Africa is a food-importing region and imports have been growing in recent years due to economic growth. Expansion of the middle and upper classes in Africa will continue and it presents a huge opportunity for local farmers and entrepreneurs. Linking the economic growth of the cities to opportunities in rural Africa is a major challenge for the years ahead. Solidaridad Southern Africa is exploring how to make the most of this opportunity.
Join us Smallholder support
Solidaridad supports smallholders in applying good practices in a range of commodities across the region. We partner with private and public sector stakeholders to help smallholders access inputs and contribute to meaningful shifts in the landscape. Contact us to learn more.
PartnerRelated News
Enterprising women thrive in soy farming
Josina Nikwaniya is a lead farmer in our gender-inclusive programme encouraging smallholders to grow soy. After starting with a tiny demo plot in 2018, the 36-year-old mother of five is planting five hectares this year, mechanising her operation and expanding her business.
50 years of change that matters
2019 was a special year for Solidaridad. Exactly 50 years ago, on 30 November 1969, Solidaridad sprung to life. We've been working for the fairer distribution of wealth along food value chains ever since.
Data diving for good
A small army of data experts came together in London recently. They were volunteering their skills, experience and smiles for a good cause for an entire weekend. They were there for Solidaridad!
More market linkages for South African smallholders
Getting their produce to buyers remains a huge challenge for smallholders. Selling more quality fruit and vegetables would not only increase their incomes, it would reduce food waste through spoilage. Could digital tools provide a solution? Trading platform HelloChoice is providing exciting opportunites in South Africa.
Revitalizing Zambia citrus production
Thomas Zimba is a retired agriculture extension officer for the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture. These days he runs the small farm he has owned in the east of the country since the 1980s. To meet changing consumer demand, he is now replacing some of his citrus trees and exploring new markets.
Keeping it local with digital currencies
Complementary currencies can incentivize people to use local shops and encourage them to adopt good farming practices. A workshop by specialists in the field Qoin demonstrated how they could help smallholder economies prosper by keeping assets in the community.
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Contact Information
Mandla Nkomo
Managing Director, Solidaridad Southern Africa
1st Floor, 25 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, 2196 Johannesburg, South Africa