Abalimi Phambili

"Each of the districts in which Lima operates has an extension officer and a number of master farmers, or mentors. Lima's programmes are helping us farmers access markets - some of the farmers are already supplying retail outlets in neighbouring towns as well as their non-farming neighbours".

The ultimate aim of this project is to provide good - and sustainable - livelihood opportunities in extremely poor communities. Small-scale farmers in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are isolated from input and produce markets as well as production information, contractors and credit facilities. Our farmer support services aim to link farmers into well-developed markets, thus improving productivity and reducing transaction costs - and ultimately creating direct relationships between farmers, markets and service providers. This project has been identified as ideally positioned to increase economic opportunities for previously disadvantaged communities and individuals through the use of existing resources and assets - water and land rights, homestead garden sites, poultry, sheep, cattle, pigs etc. It contributes to household food security and nutritional status, while building on existing skills and introducing new skills of participants through farmer-to-farmer learning and mentoring.