• A NEW ERA IN FARMER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

As an agricultural bastion that has celebrated 96 years in business, we also understand what it takes to be a successful farmer. It is for this reason we launched our new era farmer initiative in 2012. We understand that the perfect farm takes passion, dedication, AFGRI and something just that little extra.

Lemang Agricultural Services is an AFGRI Agri Services new era farmer development initiative which begun in 2012. The programme assists farmers through theoretical training, mentorship as well as technical advice over a five-year period with financial assistance to enable the farmer to unlock the full potential of the land. Our way of imparting our 96 years of experience in agriculture to support food security, prosperity and sustainability across the land.

AFGRI Agri Service’s new era farmer development programme aims to train and develop farmers to ensure sustainable, viable independent and successful farmers. The programme also aims to unlock the potential of the farmers and their farms through training, mentorship, technical assistance and exposure. This ensures increased agricultural productivity through provision of agricultural services by AFGRI and access to markets. The farmers are able to realise the returns.

To this end the programme has assisted a number of farmers who have been able to enter the market, establish viable and sustainable business and remain profitable.

Farmers sign a 5-year Enterprise/Supplier Development Agreement and in the 5 years and beyond, are exposed to the entire AFGRI services offering. AFGRI’s numerous divisions will be able to assist with many solutions including, financial, insurance, grain procurement, storage, marketing and more.

Equipment Rentals

Lemang is part of the AFGRI Group which is leading the charge in the agricultural sector by launching this disruptive new agtech platform, Axl. This is the first of its kind in South Africa – an online platform designed to enable the convenient rental of farm equipment, facilitating the contract between the renter and the owner in a few simple steps.

Axl, allows farmers to find, rent and pay for agricultural equipment through a secure online portal, enabling service providers – equipment owners, retailers and contractors – to build their business, grow revenue streams and optimise the process of renting out machines. Axl also provides payment solutions that ease cashflow challenges for service providers, while connecting renters to a quality rated service.

Visit the Axl app which contains all the necessary information, options and terms and conditions.

Visit app

Our passion and dedication produces results

Understanding that business and related skills such as grain marketing and price hedging are an integral part of a successful farming operation, AFGRI also assists new era farmers with Grain Management services. Farmers are taught the basics of the futures market and are then able to use this knowledge to hedge prices in the future. Farmers are also provided with basic business skills training.

Finally, the programme provides finance to farmers and exposure to the latest technology and farming best practice. Through organised Farmers’ Days, Lemang Agricultural Services continues to expand the horizons of new era farmers and will always be with the farmers, for the farmers, as it has for over 95 years.

AFGRI Agri Services is committed to transformation and believes that agriculture is a key driver of economic transformation.

Our model of operation

Lemang Agricultural Services’ initiative delivers AFGRI’s new era farmer training and development programme and aims to develop historically-disadvantaged farmers.

Most new era farmers have a huge amount of passion for agriculture. The unfortunate reality, through no fault of their own, is there is often a lack the technical and financial knowledge and support to convert this passion into sustainable business success. This can mean that their credit risk is high and consequently new era farmers cannot access finance from banks and other financial institutions because they have no track record of success.

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The credit risk profile decreases as
new era farmers receive technical training
and become more knowledgeable and
successful at farming and managing their finances.

By partnering with Lemang Agricultural Services, the dedicated training and mentorship received through the programme builds skills, and over time, helps to reduce credit risk and supports better farming, agronomy and financial success.

The amount of mentorship new era farmers receive from the programme also lessens over time, as mentors pass on their knowledge to the farmers. However, our mentors are always available to be called on if needed.

Eligibility Criteria

The AFGRI Agri Services new era Farmer Development Programme is for qualifying farmers who meet the minimum criteria, which include:

  • Passion for agriculture/farming
  • Driven individuals
  • Access to farmland

Non-disqualifiers:

  • Technical experience
  • Availability of equipment
  • Literacy level – only required to determine training method
  • Finance provided subject to the requirements of the National Credit Act

Farmers qualifying for and entering the programme sign a five-year Enterprise/Supplier Development Agreement and in the five years and beyond, are exposed to the entire AFGRI service offering. AFGRI’s numerous divisions will be able to assist with solutions including financial, insurance, mechanisation, grain procurement, grain storage, marketing and more.

COURSES ON OFFER

Lemang Agricultural Services offers a range of courses specifically tailored to strengthen the famers’ knowledge base in the field of Farm Management, Plant Production, Live Stock and Financial Planning, and include:

  • Production Methods
  • Farm Management for Profits
  • Farm Evaluation
  • Planning and Management
  • Business Ethics and Farm Management
  • Personal Development
  • Livestock Management
  • Introduction to Marketing
  • Basic Literacy
  • Tractor Driving

Contact us for more information:

Tel: (+ 27)11 063 2612
Email: lemang@afgri.co.za

Our Success Stories

Across South Africa, emerging farmers are making huge strides thanks to AFGRI’s Lemang Agricultural Services programme, which makes finance, training, agronomists and mentors available to farmers.
Here are just a few of their success stories.

IN METSWEDING, GAUTENG, FARMER A IS FLOURISHING

In the 2013/2014 season Lemang Agricultural Services met this farmer in Metsweding for the first time. Only 68 ha had been planted using a planter that was incorrectly calibrated, thus creating large, inefficient gaps amongst the maize plants. This led to an infestation of weeds. The AFGRI training and development programme that Farmer A signed up for included farmer study groups, in-class training, basic computer training, and on-farm assistance by agronomists.
This, combined with mentorship, also ensured that the farmer’s confidence in his skills and abilities was engrained. Finance provided by AFGRI ensured that he could purchase an additional 22 ha of land, bringing the total to 100 ha. Weed management was also under control, with an excellent crop on the land. Full repayment of the production loan has been made, and the next step is to plant 120 ha. This is made possible through the confidence to lease additional land, as well as having a true partner where farming matters can be discussed, and the best course of action implemented.

IN THE NKANGALA DISTRICT OF MPUMALANGA YIELDS ARE IMPROVING

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.

IN MPUMALANGA, FARMER C NOW HAS A 617 HA FARM AND RECENTLY WON FARMER OF THE YEAR WITH GRAIN SA

Humble beginnings meant that Farmer C originally farmed on 50 ha but three years ago this started to change when he joined the Lemang Agricultural Services training and development programme. Here he garnered much-needed training in the form of in-class training, on-farm technical training with agronomists, personal development, as well as basic computer training. Monitoring and mentorship took the form of regular visits to the farm, assistance in managing accounts to ensure payments to input suppliers were made, as well as assistance with pre-season budgeting and spending.
From the humble 50 ha, Farmer C has developed into farming on just over 400 ha, made up of 140 ha of maize, 260 ha of soya beans and 20 ha of sugar beans. Yields have increased so that he is now able to produce between 6 to 9 tons per ha of maize and 1,5 to 3 tons per ha of soya beans. Farmer C’s farm is also run with equipment he was able to finance from the profits. The training, mentorship and development programme has helped Farmer C learn the latest advanced techniques. By winning “Farmer of the Year”, he walked away with a brand-new tractor from John Deere, which will make his operation even more efficient.

IN STANDERTON FARMER D IS MAKING HIS PASSION A REALITY

This is the first year in the Lemang Agricultural Services training and development programme for Farmer D, who is very passionate about farming, and is a highly motivated individual. Farmer D spent most of his time on his farm during planting season, and his crop is beyond all expectations despite the relatively short period. He planted soya beans this season because of the drought, as he didn’t want to take too much risk, planting 75 ha and another 225 ha, which he owns in partnership with a neighbour. The crop estimate is currently around 1.5 tons per ha.

Contact Us

Managing Director

Praveen Dwarika

Praveen.Dwarika@afgri.co.za

011 063 2392

Operations Manager

Bankies Malan

bankies-malan@afgri.co.za

084 075 6807

Training Manager

Sylvester Lubambo

sylvester.lubambo@afgri.co.za

076 840 9463

Relationship Manager: Eastern Cape

Vincent Ngqukumba

vincent.ngqukumba@afgri.co.za

073 644 0964

Relationship Manager: Gauteng and Limpopo

Jeffrey Tladi

jeffrey.tladi@afgri.co.za

078 740 4812

Relationship Manager: North West

Khomotso Lekgoathi

Khomotso.lekgoathi@afgri.co.za

083 369 8382

Relationship Manager: Mpumalanga

Delmas

Lucky Moleme

lucky.moleme@ afgri.co.za

083 326 9695

Relationship Manager: Kwazulu-Natal

Vryheid

Menzi Ngcamu

Menzi.ngcamu@afgri.co.za

073 818 2564

Relationship Manager: Free State

Bloemfontein

Sosie Matla

sosie.matla@afgri.co.za

083 413 9734

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