By OBAKENG MAJE
30 September 2026 – The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding agro-processing, creating jobs and strengthening farmer participation in the agricultural value chain with the launch of the Jantjies Boerdery Packhouse Project in Taung. The North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, joined by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nokuzola Capa, officially unveiled the value-adding packhouse at Jantjies Boerdery on Monday.
Sambatha said the project is aimed at strengthening lucerne production and processing in Taung and forms part of government’s broader efforts to support farmer-led enterprises that move beyond primary production and create greater value within the agricultural value chain. He said the investment should not be viewed as support for one individual enterprise, but as an intervention that will benefit the wider farming community in Taung.
“This investment is not only for Jantjies as an individual. Taung has one of the greatest concentrations of lucerne producers, which is why we are supporting lucerne aggregation. There are a number of lucerne farmers in the area, and our vision is to position Taung as a provincial lucerne hub.
“The development of the lucerne value chain has the potential to increase agricultural production and create employment opportunities in the municipality. The production of lucerne in Taung should help increase the capacity of the area to create jobs,” said Sambatha.
He further said the equipment provided to Jantjies is intended to assist not only this enterprise, but other farmers in and around Taung to produce and process lucerne. Sambatha added that the department has supported the initiative with lucerne harvesting machinery, processing and value-adding equipment, as well as packaging materials.
“The support is intended to increase production capacity, promote agro-processing and create opportunities for farmers to participate more meaningfully in the agricultural value chain. We encourage farmers to collaborate and make use of opportunities presented by agro-processing.
“The department is committed to assisting farmers with value-adding machinery to increase production capacity, create jobs and support the development of farmers. We encourage farmers to collaborate and ensure that agricultural products are processed and value is retained within our communities,” he said.
Sambatha said initiatives such as the lucerne aggregation project and Hemp Hub demonstrate the government’s commitment to supporting farmers beyond production by creating an enabling environment for value addition, enterprise development and participation in agricultural markets.
Meanwhile, Tshepiso Jantjies said Jantjies Boerdery is a farmer-led enterprise specialising in the production, harvesting, processing, packaging and distribution of lucerne products for the livestock feed market. Jantjies said the enterprise currently supplies markets beyond the North West and exports to Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho.
“We also have supply contracts with companies in other provinces. The business had worked for more than three years to establish the necessary systems and comply with requirements across the agricultural value chain.
“We plant, harvest, package and supply. I specialise in lucerne. It took us more than three years to get to where we are because there are a lot of compliance procedures that we had to meet to work across the entire value chain,” he said.
Jantjies said the government support with machinery has been instrumental in enabling the enterprise to move from primary production into value addition. He said as a lucerne agro-processor, it is important to comply with industry standards, including the machinery that you use.
“With the lucerne pellet mill, I can process the product into pellets. Had it not been for the department’s support with the machinery, I would not have been able to produce a product such as pellets. Compliance involves several aspects of the operation, including the packhouse facility and processing equipment.
“The enterprise currently employs local residents, while the new packhouse is expected to create additional opportunities for farmers to bring their lucerne to the facility for processing and value addition,” said Jantjies.
Jantjies also plays a role in developing emerging farmers through mentorship and regular masterclasses aimed at equipping smallholder farmers with practical knowledge on lucerne production and processing. He said through these interventions, farmers are supported with knowledge on how to plant and manage lucerne and process it into livestock feed products.
“The packhouse is expected to strengthen this support by creating a platform where local producers can access processing and value-adding opportunities without having to operate across the entire value chain individually.
“The initiative contributes to the department’s objectives of promoting rural industrialisation, job creation, farmer development, food security and inclusive economic growth,” said Jantjies.
