The Challenge
Rural agricultural communities across South Africa face a critical paradox: whilst agriculture remains fundamental to food security and economic development, smallholder farmers often lack the systematic support required to transition from subsistence to commercially viable operations.
In the Greater Tubatse Municipality, the Bohwa Ja Rena and Ditholwana Tsa Rena Development Trusts identified this exact challenge. Despite having willing participants and fertile land, there was no cohesive framework to stimulate agricultural development. Aspiring farmers struggled to formalise their businesses, whilst existing farmers lacked the technical and commercial expertise to scale their operations effectively.
The stakes were high: without intervention, these communities would remain trapped in cycles of poverty, missing vital opportunities for inclusive economic growth, food security, and sustainable development.
Our Approach
The Change Institute was appointed to design and implement a comprehensive farmer support programme to address these systemic challenges through a multi-stakeholder approach.
Phase 1: Understanding the Landscape
Our team conducted an extensive feasibility study, engaging a broad range of stakeholders, including:
- Corporate partners
- Traditional authorities
- Institutions of higher learning
- Beneficiary communities
- Public sector departments
This thorough consultation process revealed the complex dynamics at play and informed our overarching programme framework.
Phase 2: Designing for Impact
Recognising the volatile dynamics that rural communities often face, we developed a phased implementation approach that could adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining momentum. The programme was built on three core pillars:
1. Differentiated Support Pathways
- Specialised agricultural training for aspiring farmers
- Experiential support for existing farmers, focused on operational improvement and scalability
- On-farm technical and commercial guidance
2. Ecosystem Development
- A blueprint for aggregating agricultural initiatives
- Network facilitation to connect farmers with the broader agricultural ecosystem
- Partnership development for sustainable growth
3. Stakeholder Engagement Framework
- Structured collaboration across multiple stakeholder groups
- Change management processes to ensure buy-in and sustainability
- Post-implementation support systems
The Results
The programme’s impact extended far beyond initial expectations, creating transformative change across multiple dimensions:
Quantitative Impact
- 121 farms directly supported through the programme
- 17 villages benefited from agricultural ecosystem development
- Significant increase in youth participation in agricultural activities
Qualitative Transformation
The programme successfully established a replicable framework that catered to farmers at various stages of development. Aspiring farmers gained the knowledge and confidence to formalise their operations, whilst existing farmers developed the skills and networks required for sustainable growth.
Systemic Change
Perhaps most significantly, the programme catalysed lasting institutional impact. The ecosystem developed through our intervention continues to provide targeted support to beneficiaries, ensuring sustainability well beyond the initial implementation period.
Recognition and Validation
The programme’s success was formally recognised when the Department of Agriculture within the Greater Tubatse Municipality was acknowledged as one of the best-performing departments — a direct result of the programme’s implementation and outcomes.
Beyond the Numbers: A Blueprint for Rural Development
This initiative demonstrates how targeted, systematic intervention can unlock the potential of rural agricultural communities. By addressing both individual farmer needs and systemic challenges, the programme created a sustainable model for agricultural development that continues to generate meaningful impact.
The success of the Bohwa Ja Rena programme highlights the importance of:
- Comprehensive stakeholder engagement
- Differentiated support based on farmer readiness
- Creating ecosystems rather than isolated interventions
- Building institutional capacity for long-term sustainability
Looking Forward
The framework established through this programme provides a replicable model for rural agricultural development across South Africa — and indeed beyond. By demonstrating that systematic, multi-stakeholder approaches can create lasting change, this initiative paves the way for scaling similar interventions in other rural communities.
The 121 farms and 17 villages that participated in this programme are not just statistics — they represent families, communities, and futures that have been fundamentally transformed through strategic agricultural development.
This case study demonstrates The Change Institute’s commitment to creating sustainable, systemic change that addresses root causes while building long-term capacity for growth and development.