USAID South Africa has made more than R1,8 million available for the creation of a programme to create employment through agribusiness SMME’s.  The programme was established at the Lengau Agricultural Development Centre of the UFS Sydenham Experimental Farm by 
the Free State Department of Agriculture, the National African Farmers Union (NAFU), the Mangaung Local Municipality, the University of the Free State (UFS) and ECIAfrica. The aim of the programme is to create an agribusiness model which will mainstream historically disadvantaged farmers into high value markets.  In this way economic growth and market driven employment will be stimulated in this economic sector.

During the launch of the programme were, from the left:  Ms Deborah Kahatano (ECIAfrica), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean:  Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS), Mr Challa Moahloli ( Programme Co-ordinator) and Dr Léan van der Westhuizen (Head of the Lengau Agricultural Development Centre).