What's Happening?
African Farming is set to host the inaugural AgriFund Connect Summit on November 4, 2025, at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre. The event aims to address the critical funding challenges faced by
farmers, particularly black farmers, in South Africa. The summit will bring together farmers, agri-preneurs, financial institutions, and development partners to explore practical knowledge, tools, and real funding opportunities. The initiative comes in response to ongoing frustrations expressed by farmers regarding the lack of effective government support and broken funding models. The summit will focus on empowering small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the agricultural sector through hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to funding partners.
Why It's Important?
The AgriFund Connect Summit is crucial as it seeks to bridge the gap between ambition and access for farmers, particularly those marginalized by current funding models. By providing insights into making agribusinesses investment-ready and financially compliant, the summit aims to empower farmers to transition from subsistence or small-scale operations to viable commercial enterprises. This initiative is significant for driving agricultural growth and rural economic development, especially for black farmers who face barriers due to a shortage of accessible finance and enterprise development support. The summit represents a proactive step towards creating an inclusive funding model that can transform the agricultural landscape in South Africa.
What's Next?
The AgriFund Connect Summit will offer interactive sessions where participants can engage directly with mentors, financiers, and policymakers. Farmers will learn how to pitch their agribusinesses to attract investors and funding partners, and access government and private sector funding programs. The event is expected to foster connections and collaborations that could lead to sustainable agricultural development. Stakeholders will likely continue discussions on how to implement effective funding models that prioritize farmers who have demonstrated commitment and perseverance, ensuring that promising agribusinesses receive the support needed to thrive.
Beyond the Headlines
The summit highlights the broader issue of agricultural transformation in South Africa, emphasizing the need for systemic changes in funding and support structures. It underscores the importance of considering experience, knowledge, and business interest in selecting agricultural development beneficiaries. The event also reflects a growing recognition of the role of black farmers in driving economic growth, and the necessity of addressing historic injustices and exclusion from the agricultural economy. By focusing on building bankable and compliant agribusinesses, the summit aims to create a more equitable and productive agricultural sector.
