Tag: Agriculture

By SayPro Chief Monitoring and Evaluation Officer- Rikhotso Tsakani

Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Partners, Colleagues, and Friends,
Good morning.

It is with great appreciation and purpose that I welcome you to SayPro Agriculture Day 2025 — a day where we not only celebrate agriculture, but also reflect, measure, and learn from our collective journey toward impact and transformation.

As the Chief Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at SayPro, my role is grounded in one essential question: Are we making a difference? And if so, how do we know?

Agriculture is a cornerstone of development — but real progress is more than just planting crops and building programs. It’s about understanding what works, for whom, under what conditions, and why. That is where monitoring and evaluation (M&E) steps in — to ensure that our efforts lead to meaningful, measurable, and lasting outcomes.

In 2025, SayPro has continued to implement robust M&E systems across all our agriculture and rural development initiatives. Through data collection, analysis, and feedback mechanisms, we have been able to:

• Track the impact of our Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programmes with universities such as the University of Johannesburg — ensuring that interns are not just placed but mentored, supported, and growing.
• Measure the effectiveness of farmer training programmes, ensuring knowledge translates into improved yields and incomes.
• Identify gaps and opportunities for continuous improvement, so that every rand spent leads to real results in the field.

M&E is not just about accountability — it’s about learning and adaptive management. It’s about listening to the voices of farmers, students, trainers, and stakeholders. It’s about using data to drive decisions, and stories to drive commitment.

As we celebrate SayPro Agriculture Day today, let us commit not only to doing good work, but to doing it better — through evidence, learning, and transparency.

To all our programme implementers, field workers, interns, and partners — thank you for making impact measurable and meaningful.

Together, let’s continue building an agriculture sector where results are not assumed — they are tracked, proven, and celebrated.

Happy SayPro Agriculture Day 2025!
Let’s keep measuring progress and growing impact.

Thank you.

By SayPro Chief Operations Officer – Clifford Legodi

Distinguished Guests, Partners, Colleagues, and Friends,
Good morning.

It is my privilege to address you on SayPro Agriculture Day 2025, a day that celebrates the vital role agriculture plays in our continent’s growth and the relentless efforts behind the scenes that keep this sector moving forward.

As Chief Operations Officer at SayPro, I am keenly aware that the success of agriculture depends not only on vision and innovation but on effective, efficient, and sustainable operations. Behind every seed planted and every harvest gathered, there is a complex web of planning, logistics, coordination, and management.

At SayPro, we are dedicated to optimizing these operational processes to support farmers, agripreneurs, and communities. Our work ensures that training programs, such as our Work Integrated Learning (WIL) initiatives with partners like the University of Johannesburg, run smoothly and deliver maximum impact.

We continuously refine our operations to improve resource allocation, supply chain management, technology deployment, and stakeholder engagement. This operational excellence translates into real-world results — enabling timely access to inputs, market opportunities, and support services that farmers need to thrive.

Moreover, as we face evolving challenges such as climate change, supply disruptions, and market fluctuations, SayPro’s operational agility and innovation become even more critical. We are committed to building resilient systems that can adapt and sustain agricultural productivity for generations to come.

To all those working tirelessly in the field, in offices, and in communities — your dedication fuels our mission. Together, through sound operations and collaborative effort, we will continue to drive sustainable agricultural growth across Africa.

Happy SayPro Agriculture Day 2025!
Let us keep planting the seeds of operational excellence and harvest success.

Thank you.

By SayPro Chief Human Capital Officer – Sinentlantla Mabusela

Distinguished Guests, Colleagues, Partners, and Friends,
Good morning.

It is a great honour to stand before you on SayPro Agriculture Day 2025 — a day dedicated not only to celebrating agriculture but also to recognizing the people who make agriculture thrive.

As Chief Human Capital Officer at SayPro, I am deeply aware that the strength of our agricultural sector lies in its human capital — the farmers, the agripreneurs, the researchers, the youth, and the communities whose skills, passion, and resilience drive our growth.

Agriculture is more than land and crops; it is a story of human potential, ingenuity, and opportunity. At SayPro, our focus is on developing this potential through training, mentorship, and meaningful Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences. We believe that investing in people — especially youth and women — is the key to unlocking a prosperous and sustainable agricultural future.

In partnership with institutions like the University of Johannesburg, we have continued to offer practical, skills-based programs that equip our interns and emerging agripreneurs with the knowledge, confidence, and experience they need to succeed.

But beyond skills, we invest in leadership development, wellbeing, and creating inclusive environments where every individual feels valued and empowered. Because when people thrive, communities prosper, and agriculture flourishes.

As we celebrate today, let us renew our commitment to nurture talent, foster innovation, and champion diversity in agriculture. Let us support the next generation of agricultural leaders who will transform challenges into opportunities and visions into reality.

To every farmer, student, intern, and agricultural professional here today — you are the heart of our industry and the architects of our future.

Together, let us grow not just crops, but careers, confidence, and communities.

Happy SayPro Agriculture Day 2025!
Let’s cultivate our greatest resource — our people.

Thank you.

By SayPro Chief Strategic Partnership Officer – Nancy Mdaka

Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Partners, Colleagues, and Friends,
Good morning!

It is a privilege to speak to you today on SayPro Agriculture Day 2025 — a celebration of collaboration, community, and commitment to transforming agriculture across Africa.

As the Chief Partnership Officer at SayPro, I am reminded every day that no meaningful progress is achieved alone. Agriculture, with all its complexity and potential, thrives through the power of partnerships — between farmers, government, academia, private sector, civil society, and development organizations.

SayPro’s mission to empower farmers, agripreneurs, and communities is built on the foundation of strong, strategic partnerships. Over the past year, we have deepened our alliances with universities like the University of Johannesburg, government departments, financial institutions, technology providers, and local cooperatives. Together, we have created platforms for innovation, learning, and sustainable growth.

Our collaborative Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs have been a cornerstone, allowing students to gain hands-on experience while contributing real value to agricultural projects and enterprises. These partnerships ensure that knowledge flows both ways — enriching education while delivering impact on the ground.

Today, more than ever, partnerships are critical to addressing the challenges we face — from climate resilience and food security to market access and youth unemployment. By leveraging each partner’s unique strengths, resources, and expertise, we amplify our collective impact.

At SayPro, we are committed to nurturing these relationships, fostering trust, and building ecosystems that support scalable, sustainable agricultural development.

To all our partners here today and those joining us in spirit: thank you. Your collaboration fuels progress, innovation, and hope.

Together, we are sowing the seeds of a brighter agricultural future for Africa.

Happy SayPro Agriculture Day 2025!
Let us continue growing together.

Thank you.

By SayPro Chief Finance Officer – Toka Keamogetswe

Ladies and Gentlemen, Partners, Stakeholders, Friends of SayPro,

Good morning and welcome to SayPro Agriculture Day 2025!

Today, we gather to celebrate more than just a sector — we celebrate the economic backbone of our continent: agriculture. As the Chief Finance Officer of SayPro, I am honoured to stand before you, not only to reflect on the financial impact of agriculture, but to champion it as one of the most powerful tools we have for inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

Agriculture is not just about soil and seeds — it is about numbers that feed nations. It is about turning investments into livelihoods, transforming budgets into food security, and creating a return on investment that touches every family, every household, and every child.

Over the past year, SayPro has directed strategic financial resources into youth-led agri-enterprises, agripreneurship training, community cooperatives, and digital agri-innovation. We have ensured that every rand spent in agriculture is a rand that multiplies — in jobs, in income, in food security, and in dignity.

We have partnered with funders, donors, development agencies, and government departments to leverage funding that supports smallholder farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) interns. Our approach has been data-driven, accountable, and impact-focused. At SayPro, we believe in finance with purpose.

But as we look to the future, the financial case for agriculture has never been more compelling. For every challenge we face — climate, market access, input costs — there is also opportunity. Smart finance, blended capital, and sustainable investment models are the future of agriculture. And SayPro is proud to be at the forefront of designing and implementing these solutions.

To our interns from the University of Johannesburg and many other institutions — you are the financial future of farming. Your energy, your innovation, your commitment will help us build agri-businesses that are not only productive, but profitable and resilient.

To our farmers and community leaders — your daily decisions, your budgeting, your investments of time and effort — are the reason we can talk today about real impact. Your work is seen, valued, and supported.

As CFO, I commit to ensuring that SayPro remains a transparent, efficient, and mission-driven financial partner in agriculture. We will continue to unlock resources, drive innovation, and create opportunities that make agriculture not only sustainable — but bankable.

Let us remember: when we fund agriculture, we fund the future.

Happy Agriculture Day to all.
Let’s invest in growth. Let’s invest in people. Let’s invest in Africa.

Thank you.

By SayPro Chief Marketing Officer – Puluko Nkiwane

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, Partners in Development,
Good morning!

It is with great pride and gratitude that I welcome you all to SayPro Agriculture Day 2025 — a day of celebration, reflection, and inspiration as we honor the incredible role agriculture plays in shaping our communities, strengthening our economies, and securing our future.

At SayPro, we believe that agriculture is not just a sector — it is the heartbeat of development. It feeds our nations, fuels our industries, creates livelihoods, and builds resilient, self-reliant communities.

Today, as we stand here in 2025, we celebrate not only the rich traditions of African farming but also the innovation, sustainability, and youth-driven transformation that is redefining agriculture across the continent.

Over the past year, SayPro has proudly supported thousands of smallholder farmers, young agripreneurs, agricultural interns, and cooperatives through training, market access, mentorship, and technology enablement. Through our Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programmes, we have continued to partner with institutions like the University of Johannesburg, enabling students to gain real-world experience and make tangible impacts in the agri-sector.

Our mission is clear: to empower the next generation of farmers, agribusiness leaders, and rural innovators. We do this not just through words, but through action — by delivering skills, creating opportunities, and facilitating access to resources that turn dreams into harvests.

But let us be clear — the road ahead demands more from all of us. As climate change, food insecurity, and global economic shifts challenge our food systems, we must rise with urgency and unity. We must invest in climate-smart agriculture, support women and youth in agribusiness, and use data, technology, and partnerships to future-proof our efforts.

To every farmer here today, to every intern, every trainer, every government official, academic, and private sector leader: thank you. You are the champions of transformation.

Let this day be a reminder that agriculture is power. It is innovation. It is sustainability. It is hope. And it is our responsibility to protect and grow this lifeblood of Africa.

Together, let us cultivate not just crops — but potential. Let us plant seeds of change, and reap a harvest of impact.

Happy SayPro Agriculture Day 2025!
Let’s grow Africa together.

Thank you.