The Khomanani Agricultural Hub is set to support 100 smallholder farmers surrounding Kruger National Park (KNP) and Numbi Gate, including Huntington (Hunzukani), Marbarhule, Somerset and Belfast. The Nkambeni area near Hazyview will boast a secondary satellite hub.

The initiative is expected to create and sustain more than 300 jobs and livelihoods across farming enterprises, hub operations and related agricultural value chains. The two hubs are expected to create 10 to 20 permanent jobs, while the growth of participating farming enterprises will generate additional employment opportunities within local communities.

This will assist the farmers by bringing produce together at one location to build the scale needed to meet commercial buyers’ requirements for quality, consistency and volume.

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Tourism supply chains unlocked

The hub was launched on October 29 by the investor, Tourvest Foundation, which invested R3.1m into the agricultural project.

Tourvest Group CEO Luvhengo Neswiswi said many farmers were already producing quality agricultural products but had faced barriers to formal markets, including limited scale, logistics and market access.

He said Tourvest had appointed U CAN GROW, an agricultural development organisation with experience establishing and managing hubs like this across South Africa, to manage the facility and support participating farmers.

“Through the Khomanani Agricultural Hub, we are not simply buying produce. We are opening doors for local farmers to become suppliers to the tourism economy, enabling them to build sustainable businesses, create jobs and strengthen local economies. This is what inclusive growth looks like when the public and private sectors work together to create lasting impact.”

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Wide market access targeted

He added that through collaboration with Sanparks, the hub is also expected to open up procurement opportunities from other operators in KNP. Further opportunities, over time, may include retail markets, institutional procurement, and government nutrition and school-feeding programmes.

The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs welcomed the investment.

Representing the district office of this department, Nelisiwe Muxwane said: “I encourage farmers to align their crop and vegetable production with market demand to ensure sustainable participation in formal markets. We commend Tourvest for its commitment to creating market access opportunities that support the growth and development of rural small-scale farmers.”

The traditional councils of Jongilanga, Hoxane and Mhaule appreciated Tourvest’s support, and the opportunities created through the tourism economy for rural producers.