Vhembe Biosphere Reserve

About the Programme

Seriti managed the GEF Small Grants Programme to promote rural and peri-urban grassroots farming activities and sustainable agri-business development programmes amongst the marginalized community living within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, through the implementation of the Work. Learn. Grow Programme.

Seriti selected a total of 40 beneficiaries for the programme from the communities of Thohoyandou and Makhado in the Vhembe district building on Seriti’s pre-existing footprint within these communities.

Success Stories

Growing small-scale farming and enterprise potential

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Core Objectives Of The Project

Establishment of homestead/community food gardens.
- To encourage the participation of women and youth who have limited opportunities to tap into the farming space.
To promote the transition to agroecology farming.
- To encourage farmers living within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve to adapt to climate change, use natural resources sustainably, and conserve biodiversity.
To strengthen food security and income opportunities.
- To assist farmers with exploring and understanding the job and market opportunities within the agricultural sector.
To provide agribusiness development exposure.
- Capacitating farmers to become Agri-preneurs, understand the different markets opportunities within the food value chain and to further change their mindsets to farm as a business.

Success Facts

40 beneficiaries received permaculture and agribusiness training which enhanced their knowledge about agroecology principles and procedures and further improved their income opportunities.
65% of beneficiaries indicated that the programme changed their lives to a great extent considering the project’s positive impact (62%) on their food security.
15 beneficiaries received entrepreneurship development training from NYDA, which increased their funding opportunities to qualify for grant programmes intended to provide young entrepreneurs with access to financial assistance in order to establish or grow their businesses.
We assisted 7 beneficiaries to register their farming enterprises to further increase their funding opportunities.
Close to 15000 vegetable seedlings were distributed throughout the duration of the programme.