The problem
The community had land but no capital for inputs, limited technical support and no certain buyer, so the cash-flow gap between planting and harvest made commercial production impossible.
What was done
Impala Platinum funded the season as part of its social investment. Ntshwanti Consulting formed and trained the cooperative in governance, compliance and collective organisation. The Original Grain Fund supplied agronomy and production support through AAPP. The Original Grain Company signed a guaranteed offtake at market-related pricing before planting.
The team lived on site for 21 days through planting, visited twice a month for the next three months and monthly after that, and returns to oversee the harvest. The yield target is 6 to 7 tonnes a hectare Target, against the 1 to 2 tonnes typical of subsistence plots.
Results
75 stakeholders benefited from the first 47 ha cycle. The first cycle was managed directly by the community, and The Original Grain Company (Pty) Ltd bought the full harvest from them. The Original Grain Company is now taking over the running of the project for the expansion. Participation is split 50/50 by gender.
What is next
An expansion to 350 hectares is confirmed and starts in October 2026. At full scale it would raise output to about 2,450 tonnes, with a harvest value of around R10 million Projected.
At a glance
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Region | Eastern Cape |
| Crop | White maize |
| Area | 47 ha in the first cycle; 350 ha expansion confirmed, starting October 2026 |
| Participants | 75 in a cooperative |
| Cycle | 10 months |
| Expected at full scale | About 2,450 t, around R10 million |
Run a project like these in your area
Land, an organised community and a road to market are all it takes to start.
- Reply within two working days, from a person, not a bot
- Priced off SAFEX, delivered to your site or the border
- One counterparty from farm to delivery
Prefer email? info@theoriginalgraincompany.co.za