• A powerful partnership: Through a collaboration between the John Deere Foundation and Tanager International, the Imbewu program is helping smallholder farmers transition from subsistence to commercially viable agriculture in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
• Real results for farmers: With integrated support, including training, finance, and market access, participants achieved up to 69% higher yields and 65% higher incomes.
• Building resilient farming systems: More than a productivity boost, Imbewu is creating sustainable agricultural systems that empower farmers to grow independent, climate-resilient businesses for the future.

In South Africa’s Eastern Cape, smallholder farmers are transforming their livelihoods by moving from subsistence farming to commercially viable agriculture. This shift is being driven by a shared commitment from the John Deere Foundation and Tanager International, working together through the Imbewu Farmer Development Program.

The John Deere Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Deere & Company, is committed to a “farm to plate” mission that aims to strengthen food security, improve education, and empower young farmers through technology, access to finance, and training. Tanager International, an international non-profit organization, specializes in building inclusive agricultural systems that improve incomes, resilience, and market access for smallholder farmers.

Together, these organizations launched Imbewu I in 2022, meaning “seed” in isiXhosa, a Bantu language indigenous to Southern Africa. The program’s first phase aimed to address the lack of knowledge, high-quality inputs for pest and disease management, and adequate storage infrastructure preventing farmers from making a living growing maize in the Eastern Cape.

 

Imbewu I: Planting the Seeds of Change

Imbewu I was designed as a pilot program to support smallholder maize farmers, recognizing maize as a cornerstone of South Africa’s food system. The goal was clear: Help farmers transition from subsistence farming to sustainable, self-reliant production.

What made Imbewu different was its systems-based approach. Rather than addressing isolated challenges, the program connected farmers to a full ecosystem of support, including:

• access to inputs and finance;
• technical training in good agricultural practices (GAP);
• digital extension tools, including WhatsApp-based advisory services; and
• stronger linkages to markets.

Imbewu I accompanied farmers through the early stages of land preparation to market sales, giving them the technical knowledge to optimize yields while strengthening their business skills and networks for long-term profitability.

The results were compelling. On average, participating farmers achieved:

• 69% higher yields per hectare, and
• 65% higher gross income per hectare compared to non-participating peers.

Equally important, the program prioritized inclusion by actively engaging women and youth and ensuring they had access to training, tools, and decision-making opportunities.

Imbewu II: Scaling Impact and Building Systems

Building on this early success, Imbewu II launched in 2024 to deepen and expand impact. While continuing to improve productivity, the second phase placed greater emphasis on system-building and long-term resilience.

Today, Imbewu II works across the full farming lifecycle, with a focus on investing in crop diversification, climate-smart practices, mechanization and services, and improved crop storage.
Across both phases, the program has supported 6,600 smallholder farmers and provided training to 4,000 farmers, of which 58 percent were women.

This approach reflects a shared vision of John Deere Foundation and Tanager. That vision is to not only improve crop yields in the short term but create self-sustaining agricultural systems that enable long-term independence and growth.

A Farmer’s Story: From Survival to Strategy

For many farmers, this transformation is deeply personal.

At age 59, Nompiliso Nowonga Maziko had spent years farming using traditional methods, often feeling that her hard work yielded limited returns. In 2024, she joined Imbewu II as a “lead farmer,” dedicating one hectare of land to a demonstration plot for yellow maize.

With hands-on support from agronomists, she learned improved techniques across every stage, from land preparation to post-harvest management. In just one year, her yields rose from 2.8 tons to 7.2 tons per hectare, a 260% increase, generating approximately R47,700 in income. But the shift went beyond numbers.

“Before Imbewu, I was just planting to survive. Now I plan my farming like a business. I know my costs, my markets, and how to grow, even when the weather is uncertain…Change can be challenging, but it can also bring new life to old fields.”— Nompiliso Nowonga Maziko, a 59-year-old farmer supported by Imbewu II

Nompiliso invested the additional income in better inputs and implements for the next growing season, improving the productivity of her other crops. She soon became a role model in her community.

From Projects to Lasting Change

The Imbewu program was designed to be a pathway to independence, rather than reliance on future aid or development programs. By strengthening farmers’ skills, market connections, and local agricultural systems, it helps farmers progress from subsistence production to aggregation and, ultimately, full commercial participation.

Through their partnership, the John Deere Foundation and Tanager are proving that meaningful agricultural transformation requires more than good seeds and soil; it requires systems that endure, knowledge that spreads, and farmers who are empowered to lead their own growth.

From seed to system, the Imbewu Program is helping cultivate not just better harvests, but stronger, more resilient futures for farming communities across the Eastern Cape.

Learn more about the Imbewu Farmer Development Program.

Learn more about the John Deere Foundation.