The Abalimi Phambili Programme (APP) began in 2002 and is a partnership between Teba Development and Lima with funding from Gold Fields. Gold Fields go beyond just being a leader in gold mining, by making meaningful investments into mine worker sending areas. They provide small scale farmers with technical and financial support, to grow their businesses into viable enterprises.

Reaching fourteen districts across KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga; APP reaches over 14000 individual farmers who together bring in over R400 million annually from their cultivation activities on their farms.

The primary focus of the programme is to impact positively on the local economy, and to improve livelihoods of small scale emerging farmers. Through APP, Gold Fields have made a major contribution to rural households and agricultural producers through the provision of technical expertise, training and skills transfer as well as the creation of linkages to input and output markets, mechanization, innovation and ultimately micro enterprise development and support. Furthermore, the programme has contributed to improvement of household nutritional levels.

The indirect benefits and impacts of the programme on local communities have been significant, and these include better nutrition, cheaper local food and a substantial boost to local enterprises that enter the value chain.

Through the Gold Fields support, production levels, as well as produce quality, of Lusikisiki, Bizana and Josini farmers have increased substantially. This has meant that farmers can now expand out of usual local markets and sell  externally (outside local villages or communities), ultimately increasing profits. Farmers have been successfully linked to the external markets and commercial stores such as Spar, Boxer, Kei Fresh Produce and Government hospitals. This has enabled these farmers to increase profits and better support themselves and their families.

HIV/Aids still continues to impact a number of vulnerable households who require good nutrition and food gardens. The funding provided has enabled the delivery of fencing, irrigation equipment and poultry houses to improve farmers productive capacity.

Mrs Ntshangase, on behalf of all the farmers from every district, would like to thank Gold Fields for their contribution. “We are grateful that you have helped us build a better life and future for our families and ourselves,” said Mrs Ntshangase. 

Mrs Ntshangase, the chairperson of Isibonelo Garden  Project in Josini, KwaZulu-Natal, amongst her flourishing field of cabbages.	(From left) Boniwe Ngcobo, Angela Parry and Madikizela, from Lima, admire the citrus fruit that Thembikhosi Nonqane (2nd from left) has grown.	Bonisiwe Dlamini from Lima, congratulates the farmers at the Lungile Nonkenge Project in Bizana for their fifth year of successful farming.	Vuyisile Ndabeni from Lusikisiki, shows Madikizela his seedling business at his large nursery.