Officials from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) have completed a three-day training programme aimed at strengthening support for smallholder farmers and helping them become more competitive in the agricultural market.
The Smallholder Empowerment Promotion (SHEP) training was held at the Themba GDARD offices from 14 to 16 July 2026, bringing together Extension and Advisory Services officials for intensive capacity building.
The programme equipped extension officers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to train and mentor smallholder farmers using the SHEP methodology, which promotes market-led farming and sustainable agribusiness development.
A key principle of the SHEP approach is encouraging farmers to “grow to sell” instead of “grow and then look for a market.”
Farmers are taught to identify buyers, understand market requirements and secure reliable markets before planting their crops.
This helps reduce post-harvest losses while improving profitability.
According to the department, understanding customer demand, quality standards and market procedures enables smallholder farmers to move beyond subsistence farming and operate successful, commercially viable agricultural businesses.
The training also focused on building entrepreneurial and business management skills, enabling farmers to establish resilient enterprises that are less dependent on external financial support.
Through the SHEP methodology, farmers are encouraged to combine targeted production practices with improved crop quality to achieve higher yields and greater financial returns.
GDARD said empowering extension officers with these skills will strengthen support for farming communities across Gauteng and contribute to the growth of the province’s agricultural economy by helping more smallholder farmers access profitable markets.