What we do as a social enterprise

We are primarily a Consulting Agency in Sustainable Farming Systems with a focus on organic production and creation of organic spaces at village and / or township level.

  Programme Beneficiaries

To ensure that all production meets consumer specification and consumer demand, we provide shared knowledge with all value chain participants by ensuring sustainable production, traceability and product integrity which has become a norm with contemporary sophisticated consumers. We strive to create a value chain participation by well-informed beneficiaries to the extent that they have access to ensured natural and sustainable farming systems where they can be part of the verification processes in the Participatory Guarantee System where all value chain participants work as a unit. In short, the producers are certified as compliant based on active participation of stakeholders, built on a foundation of trust, social networks, and knowledge exchange. This is a programme that is implemented in association with PGS networks countrywide.

CHABUTHI FARMS PROGRAMME

CHABUTHI FARMS (Organic Farms). CHABUTHI FARMS fulfils the function of strategic collection points within and outside the OVOP networks countrywide. The aim of this partnership is promotion of job creation and sustainable agricultural trade provincially and nationally through facilitating the development of fully integrated value chains in the Organic industry.

SK Agricare offers a Farmer Development Programme at four levels to cater for and develop farmers within their academic comfort areas.

Level one addresses practical learner needs for individuals who cannot read or write. Learner material for this sector is in graphics complemented with workshop and mentor sessions

Level two is on-the-field training and mentorship for farmers who do not want to sit in class for theory but prefer specific technical assistance which is supplemented with information and knowledge shared live through a local radio station and national newspaper (2015 - 2018). Farmers attracted via these media platforms have remained within SK Agricare getting advice and mentorship virtually.   

Level three addresses learner needs of farmers who can assimilate and internalise isiZulu learner material. We have translated, compiled, and produced the whole book detailing all nine modules in isiZulu 

Level four addresses English language literate farmers who can assimilate theory and practice content well, and these learners receive SAQA (South African Quality Authority) Aligned Unit standard learner material and recognised International Short Courses.

 Culturally Guided Women Development Programme

Even though the focus is on emerging organic farmers, we are conscious of the fact that farmers are members of families that sometimes constitute three to four generations per household. One of the different development programmes purports to serve women whose mental and physical states can enable them to participate in productive and sustainable livelihood activities.  Young out-of-school women in this programme are guided in food preservation and arts and crafts with guidance from grandmothers who are supported and mentored by SK Agricare.

 ON-THE-FIELD LEARNING

The Model farm is a learning experience for all. Soil health is promoted using natural fertilisers, such as vermiculture, composting and livestock manures, as well as promotion of soil biodiversity.

The farm is demarcated into three zones. Zone one and two is where a food forest can be observed and tasted. These are the busiest sections of the farm, inter-cropping with crop rotation, as well as open-pollinated seed programme can be experienced by individuals mostly on observation without any guided tour inputs.