Started as a small food security programme 14 years ago, Siyavuna has grown to provide livelihoods for thousands on the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast.
Siyavuna means ‘harvest' in isiZulu, and the Siyavuna Abalimi Development Programme was first piloted by the Give a Child a Family initiative, a registered child protection organisation promoting the rights and well-being of children and families.
THE TIMELINE
The programme started in 2008 to help ensure food security for those within the care of Give a Child a Family, with 86 farmers on board helping provide access to fresh produce markets.
By 2009 an additional 628 farmers had been taken on board and vegetable sales had expanded to four communities. This signalled the birth of the Kumnandi brand, now a household name on the KZN South Coast.
The year 2010 saw Siyavuna hosting 1 130 active farmers who were operational in nine different communities.
Owing to its great success, Siyavuna moved on from the pilot stage and became a fully fledged agricultural business with its own membership. In 2011, it was registered as a non-profit organisation of more than 1 200 active farmers.
With more
