Sasol hosted a Farmers’ Day at the Sasol Recreation Club on June 11 as part of its Bridge to Work programme.

The focus of the event was to equip small-holding farmers with the latest trends and linkages to markets, buyers, and financial institutions that are critical to transforming their businesses into sustainable operations.

Farmers and attendees of the Farmers’ Day took part in knowledge-sharing sessions, supplier demonstrations, and direct engagement sessions across the farming value chain.

The Farmers’ Day provided a solution-oriented platform to support the next generation of commercial farmers.

The emerging farmers who attended the event included former Bridge to Work trainees who have established enterprises in poultry, livestock and crop farming.

The Bridge to Work initiative is supported by the Iphepe programme, which equips the community with the skills and training needed to establish sustainable, income-generating agricultural enterprises.

Gao Mothoagae, Sasol’s vice president for corporate social investment and Sasol Foundation, said: “Farmers’ Day reflects our commitment to the empowerment of our local communities.

“Empowering them with knowledge and linking them to strategic partnerships needed to transform their farming operations into viable and sustainable businesses.

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“Our Bridge to Work programme has created a diverse pool of farmers who are well-equipped with the necessary skills to make a meaningful impact in this strategic sector of the economy.”

To date, the Iphepe programme has trained at least 311 farmers across Mpumalanga, the Free State and Gauteng, with Mpumalanga hosting the largest concentration of active farmers.

This programme is targeted primarily at unemployed youth, including women.

Three farmers were awarded cash prizes totalling R700 000 for projects they presented to a panel of judges before the event.