De Beers, the global diamond mining behemoth, has partnered with Kwenantle Farmers – a successful commercial farming enterprise and top producer of lucerne – to upskill farming start-ups and make them competitive entrepreneurs in the cutthroat agriculture sector.
De Beers said about 50 active and aspiring farmers will benefit from the training aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices and community development. Tailored to different seasons, the training will take a year.
Kwenantle, based in the Tuli Block area, is an alumnus of the Stanford Seed program, a Stanford Graduate School of Business initiative, which supports entrepreneurs to scale up and contribute to employment creation and broader objectives of economic growth and development. De Beers funds the Stanford Seed program.
The world’s biggest diamond producer said the training will equip small-scale farmers with the skills and knowledge to enhance local farming practices, increase productivity, and ultimately contribute to the socio-economic development of communities in the Northern Tuli Block.
De Beers Vice President Otsile Mabeo said the top-tier diamond miner has so far partnered with 91 entrepreneurs across Southern Africa, who have managed to scale their businesses and are continually applying Stanford Graduate School of Business tools to grow.
To date, 46 firms have participated in the programme, collectively adding $21 million in revenue, raising $24 million in capital and creating 676 jobs.
Additionally, De Beers has collaborated with Stanbic Bank through the Accelerate Incubator Hub to share insights and experiences from Stanford Seed alumni with aspiring entrepreneurs impacting over 200 entrepreneurs.
“A few short years since completing the programme, it is extremely encouraging to see the company still making strides in its transformation journey, employing many Batswana, and even supporting smaller farmers,” Mabeo said about Kwenantle Farmers.
He said the moment De Beers started working with the Kwenantle team, it became clear that they had a bold ambition for their business.
“It is truly incredible to see it come to life,” a pent-up Mabeo said.
The farming enterprise recently achieved a significant milestone with the launch of a 1mega-watt solar generation plant which will power an additional 264 hectares of farmland, bringing the total land under irrigation to 839 hectares.
“This project represents a very important part of Kwenantle’s expansion journey, underpinned by sustainability and innovation,” added Mabeo.
He highlighted De Beers’ “Building Forever” Initiative, which underpins their commitment to sustainability and aligns with the goals of Kwenantle’s transformation strategy.
