With the end of apartheid and the emergence of land reform in South Africa, the development of a viable black commercial farming sector has become important for the nation’s agriculture, economic growth, and food security.

During apartheid, blacks were left with the worst land in South Africa. Few of them were farmers, and those who did farm had little exposure to modern agriculture.

The Monsanto South Africa team knew that these farmers could become successful with the right training. The team established the Buhle Academy, an agricultural institute, on 171 hectares of land donated by the Monsanto Fund. The academy provides training in farming, agricultural methods, and relevant business and entrepreneurial skills to the rising class of smallholder farmers in South Africa.

To date, more than 1,400 students have completed academy courses. They have come not only from eight of the nine South African provinces, but from other countries, such as Zambia and Malawi. Most students at the Buhle Academy are between 20 and 35 years old. “This is most encouraging, as agriculture has been considered the ‘career of last resort’ and despised by many young people,” said Shadrack Mabuza of Monsanto South Africa. “At Buhle, it has been exciting to see new, young aspiring farmers become excited about the science and business of farming.”