Siyavuna Kumnandi

Established in 2008, Siyavuna Development Centre (SDC) is a registered Non-Profit Organisation based in Ramsgate, on the South Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Since its inception Siyavuna has trained and mentored over 2000 farmers in growing pesticide-free, naturally-grown vegetables for farmer’s own consumption and trading the surplus for income generation. Our mission is to enable smallholder farmers through skills and enterprise development, advocating resilient farming methods.  Siyavuna’s programme provides an avenue for people to become economically active and successfully self-employed in organic agriculture. We train rural families to grow organic fruit and vegetables and then organize them into Farmers Associations and a Co-operative. The Co-operative buys produce from farmers on a weekly basis, paying them cash on the spot for their produce and then selling it in urban areas under the Kumnandi brand. The fact that farmers have a guaranteed market in close proximity to their homes is a huge incentive for them as the biggest barrier they face is marketing their own produce. The profits go towards the farmer owned Co-operative enabling the farmers to develop a solid business that is sustainable in the long term. Siyavuna employ a team of mentors who work with farmers one-on-one, helping them to develop their farming skills and increase production and sales.

We have a shop at Sebenza Village where we sell our farmer’s vegetables under the Kumnandi brand. The organisation is currently employs 15 staff members, and is managed by Socio-Environmental Director, Sonja Pithey and governed by a representative Board, Chair by local community development practitioner Mr Temba Zondi.