Farming success through Land Bank blended finance

Anelly Mokwena, an emerging commercial farmer from Bronkhorstspruit, has set her sights on growing her enterprise after receiving much-needed funding from the Land Bank.

The 38-year-old was forced into farming following the tragic death of her father, a commercial farmer, who was shot during a robbery in Bronkhorstspruit in 2016. Mokwena a trained civil engineer, had to take over as the director of Sethjoka Farming, a 550 hectare (ha) farm. 

“I did not have any ambitions of going into farming, as our father had encouraged us to study and pursue other careers. 
She added that filling her father’s shoes has not been easy, especially since her father was secretive about how the business operated.

“I spent a significant amount of time going through financial statements and other documents. I had to learn almost everything from scratch. 

To make matters worse, he died during the harvest season and, as he was in the processing of taking orders for the following season. I had to pick up from there… It was a huge operation and I had to make sure that everything was in order.”

Mokwena decided to take over the farming of white and yellow maize, sunflowers and cattle. 

“We stopped the sunflower crop because we did not have enough land. It works well if other farmers in the area also grow sunflowers and you share the beds. Currently, none of the neighbouring farms grow them. If you do it alone, your yields are diminished because of the birds that attack the crop.”

Land Bank intervention

After a rigorous application process that took about six months, Mokwena’s request for funding was approved in late 2023 by the Land Bank, an entity of the National Treasury. 

The financial instrument is in the form of blended finance, structured as a 50% grant and 50% loan. The support included agricultural implements and technical support. In January 2024, the bank delivered much-needed equipment. 

“The Land Bank has come through for us. They came when we needed them the most. Until last season, the whole project was being run from my pocket and it wasn't easy. I was surviving from hand-to-mouth and the business was not growing.” 

The Land Bank blended finance meant she will be able to make a profit, while the business grows. With her financial stress a thing of the past, she has set her sights on growing the business from just 400 ha of crops to about 1000 ha.¥