Siyavuna Development Centre

Empowering Rural Organic Farmers Siyavuna Development Centre [SDC] is a registered Non-Profit Organisation based on the South Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, which aims to develop resilient smallholder farmers through skills and social enterprise development. Siyavuna Development Centre [SDC] implements a programme called Agri-SCIP [Sustainable Community Investment Programme], which tackles the inter-related challenges of poverty, food insecurity and low levels of economic participation. Smallholder farmers grow fresh produce organically, feed themselves and their families first and sell excess produce on a weekly basis for cash. This assists them to build livelihoods out of their small scale agricultural enterprises. Organic produce is marketed under our unique Kumnandi brand. All farmers that grow and supply produce for sale under our Kumnandi brand, adhere to the Participatory Guarantee System [PGS] which involves farmers, retailers and consumers in the assessment. PGS forbids the use of any chemicals and encourages smallholder farmers to develop healthy ecosystems that are highly beneficial for the environment as well as the long-term sustainability of their home garden. This system ensures an organic equivalent product. Siyavuna is providing people with opportunities to enhance food security, farming knowledge and viable sources of income. The Kumnandi brand stimulates the local economy in ecologically safe ways and gives the farmers a sense of security and pride in what they do.