How Smart Tech Is Supporting Smallholders In South Africa

In South Africa, large farms tend to have greater access to more resources - knowledge and funding - while small farmers generally struggle to even sustain, or grow their businesses.

But one firm is hoping to use technology to level the playing field a little for small farms and create a thriving business for itself.

Agri-tech startup, Khula! - which means 'to grow' in the local language isiZulu - is based in Johannesburg.

It launched in 2018 and already works with a network of around 7,500 farmers, as well as hundreds of third party suppliers and agriculture advisers.

It has an online store for selling raw materials like seeds, chemicals, and fertilisers; and also supplies information and technical support (a particularly useful service for farmers based in more remote locations).

"If you're a first-generation farmer, for instance, you only know what your neighbour knows," says chief operating officer, Ayanda Vana.

Another resource is the Khula! app, which is undergoing testing. Once up and running it should allow farmers to sell their crops directly on to retailers and other buyers.

This could potentially reduce a lot of uncertainty for smallholders - prices fluctuate constantly at wholesale marketplaces, and the agents handling those deals, typically take a cut of around 15%.