Kynoch Fertilizer’s Impact: Supporting Emerging Farmers Through Sustainable Agricultural Projects

Knowledge Makes a Difference

As part of the ETG Group, Kynoch Fertilizer is fully aware of our social responsibility in agriculture, engaging in projects that involve subsistence and emerging producers. Our footprint extends beyond South Africa to the entire continent.

For Kynoch, uplifting communities in our service areas is not just “the right thing to do” but a significant responsibility and privilege to be involved in such projects. The company participates in small-scale horticultural projects in local communities, as well as large-scale projects involving organised agriculture.

Fertiliser Recommendations

Every project has its unique challenges, but history has shown that the quality of fertiliser recommendations and the physical quality of the product are among the reasons why projects have failed. Some projects did not receive the best fertiliser recommendations and quality fertiliser. Financial challenges typically played a dominant role. Extension officers from the various provincial departments often lacked technical knowledge on fertiliser recommendations, resulting in projects failing to be financially sustainable.

Ongoing agricultural support is crucial for the success of such projects, and Kynoch excels in this with our extensive support network throughout the production period. Our local agents play a vital role in schools running horticultural projects. They are actively involved from site selection to harvesting the produce and establishing the next vegetables and/or fruits. Kynoch offers small packaging (1 kg, 2 kg, or 5 kg) tailored to the market and facilitates transportation. Not only are quality products provided, but ongoing training and support are also offered.

Soil Analyses

A second limitation or challenge is that the basis of fertiliser recommendations, namely soil analyses, is often missing or very outdated. Emerging producers then do not receive correct agronomic recommendations, which immediately puts them at a disadvantage. Kynoch’s philosophy is that there should be no distinction between commercial and emerging producers’ fertiliser recommendations.

Our agronomists consider each farm and project’s unique circumstances when composing recommendations. Due to financial constraints, the quality of fertiliser has often been a problem affecting yields negatively. As a responsible partner in the projects, quality fertiliser is non-negotiable for Kynoch. The fertiliser for social responsibility projects is manufactured at Kynoch’s facilities with the same raw materials and quality as for commercial clients. The plant mixture and top dressing are recommended according to agronomic principles and applied according to the recommended kilograms per hectare.

One of the social responsibility projects Kynoch is extremely proud to be involved in is Grain SA’s one-hectare project. Kynoch was approached by Grain SA ten years ago to be part of the Beyond Abundance project. This project provides subsistence farmers across South Africa, primarily in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo, who operate one-hectare subsistence farms, with fertiliser, seed, lime, and chemical products in smaller packages as part of the suppliers’ social responsibility programmes. There are strict qualification criteria that prospective participants must meet to be admitted to the project.

The uniqueness of the project is that producers are expected to make a financial contribution for a percentage of the total inputs. This creates accountability and a sense of ownership for the subsistence farmers and is key to the project’s success. There is literally a waiting list to join the project. The fact that the producers are managed and assisted by Grain SA mentors is also largely responsible for the project’s success. The mentors have full access to Kynoch’s agricultural team for assistance and advice. The project also benefits from Kynoch’s extensive distribution network spread across the project area, ensuring that damaged products can be quickly replaced.

Some projects are in the most remote areas of the country, making the transportation of fertiliser a significant challenge. Some delivery points are literally in the “boondocks.” Together with Kynoch’s in-house transport company, Tengwa Transport, and their subcontractors, loads are combined as efficiently as possible and dispatched to various delivery points. With the help of Grain SA mentors, the delivery process is facilitated, and control over quantities is exercised.

Kynoch’s involvement in the Grain SA project remains one of our flagship social responsibility projects. The impact on the economic, social, and mental well-being of communities is immeasurable in financial terms, and it gives us the greatest pleasure to be involved in new projects in the future.

By: Jakes Du Plessis: Kynoch

Kontak Kynoch op 011 317 2000 of info@kynoch.co.za