IN THE NKANGALA DISTRICT OF MPUMALANGA YIELDS ARE IMPROVING

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In this case, Farmer B began farming in 2011, cultivating 150 ha of maize. In 2012 he joined the training and development programme, and through a combination of training, monitoring and mentorship the business has grown to 640 ha – comprising 300 ha of white maize, 300 ha of soya beans and 40 ha of sugar beans.

Initial yields were 500kg per ha, but today yields are up at between 4 to 7 tons per ha of maize and soya and 1 to 2 tons per ha of sugar beans. The farmer improved his mechanisation by purchasing a six-row planter and a harvester head for soya and maize, bought through access to the AFGRI hire purchase funding model.