Western Cape Renews MoUs to Boost Farmer Support and Agricultural Growth

Dr Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism, praised the renewal of these partnerships as a strategic move to confront the province's pressing agricultural challenges.

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting agricultural development and transformation by renewing a series of key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with a wide array of commodity organisations for another five-year term. This renewal underscores a shared vision to enhance mentorship, skills training, input access, market opportunities, and in-kind contributions for emerging farmers throughout the province.

The MoUs, signed with more than a dozen agricultural commodity groups, create a robust framework for collaborative action. These organisations include the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA), the Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust (DFPT), SA Wines, the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), Potatoes SA, Raisins SA, Grain South Africa, Berries SA, the Citrus Growers Association, the South African Pork Producers Association, the Red Meat Producers Association, and the Rooibos Producers Association. Each plays a vital role in their respective value chains and now reaffirms their dedication to agricultural transformation and inclusive growth.

Strengthening Partnerships to Tackle Agricultural Challenges

Dr Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism, praised the renewal of these partnerships as a strategic move to confront the province's pressing agricultural challenges.

“Strategic partnerships are at the heart of our approach. These MoUs symbolise our commitment to inclusive growth, and they amplify our service delivery by bringing the expertise and resources of the private sector into our developmental agenda,” said Meyer.

He particularly highlighted the long-standing success of the "commodity approach," a model that integrates commodity organisations into public service initiatives to enhance their reach and effectiveness. “For more than a decade, the commodity approach has proved transformative, especially for emerging farmers aspiring to commercial status,” he added.

Enhancing Capacity, Market Access, and Resource Mobilisation

Echoing Meyer’s sentiments, Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, Head of the WCDoA, said the renewed partnerships would significantly boost capacity-building, mentorship, and market access opportunities. He emphasised that these collaborations enable the department to extend its reach by leveraging the specialised knowledge, financial support, and logistical capabilities of its partners.

“One of the strengths of this model lies in the Commodity Project Allocation Committees (CPACs),” Sebopetsa noted. “These committees allow commodity organisations to participate in the assessment of farmer applications, ensuring that selection is grounded in industry expertise and aligned with sectoral needs.”

According to Sebopetsa, this inclusive governance model not only ensures transparency and quality control but also increases the chances of success for emerging farmers who are matched with the right resources and mentorship frameworks.

Industry Applauds Government Collaboration

The renewed MoUs have been warmly received by industry leaders, many of whom have a longstanding history of collaboration with the WCDoA. Mariette Kotzé, Group Operations Manager at Hortgro, reflected on the journey since 2009 when the partnership first began.

“This partnership is about more than just farming. It’s about enabling real transformation. The impact of these collaborations is profound, especially when we see our growers empowered to take charge of their futures,” Kotzé said.

Mecia Petersen, CEO of the South African Table Grape Industry, emphasised the economic importance of their sector, which employs nearly 100,000 individuals and contributes an estimated R3.78 billion annually. She said that improved operational support, such as government interventions at the Port of Cape Town, illustrated the value of having a reliable governmental ally.

“Our ability to grow and generate employment depends on partnerships like these. The WCDoA has shown, time and again, that it understands the agricultural sector's needs. These MoUs take that support to the next level,” Petersen said.

Toward a Transformed, Job-Creating Agricultural Sector

Beyond immediate economic benefits, the MoUs reflect a broader vision for transforming agriculture in the Western Cape. The agreements aim to break historical barriers by enabling underrepresented producers to thrive commercially, with support rooted in technical training, business development, and infrastructure access.

Dr Meyer concluded by highlighting the province’s commitment to inclusive development: “These MoUs are not just symbolic. They are practical instruments that help us fulfil our promise to create a dynamic, inclusive, and job-rich agricultural economy.”

With the renewed agreements in place, the Western Cape Government and its commodity partners are poised to continue reshaping the province’s agricultural landscape—one that offers sustainable growth, opportunity, and transformation for all.