By Staff Reporter
MUSINA – In a move to promote sustainable agriculture and support local economic growth, Tiger Brands has rolled out a major irrigation infrastructure initiative aimed at empowering smallholder tomato farmers in Musina.
These farmers supply the company with high-quality tomatoes used to produce South Africa’s iconic All Gold Tomato Sauce.
As part of Tiger Brands’ newly launched Hulisani Programme, nine locally based farms—including four owned by women—have received advanced irrigation systems designed to increase productivity and strengthen resilience in the face of climate change.
This initiative represents a strategic shift toward building a sustainable, locally sourced agricultural supply chain, with a strong focus on enhancing national food security.
Maanda Milubi, Director of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Tiger Brands, emphasized the importance of reliable infrastructure for small-scale farmers, stating:
“We are actively developing sustainable local agricultural sourcing to ensure a reliable supply of raw materials, reduce dependence on imports, support farmers in building resilient businesses, and contribute to national food security.”
Using the Agricultural Aggregator Model, Tiger Brands works with expert aggregators to coordinate groups of black smallholder farmers. These aggregators provide technical mentorship, input financing, and formal supply contracts that enable farmers to meet commercial quality and production standards.
The model has already empowered dozens of farmers in Limpopo, including young women entrepreneurs who now supply produce for various Tiger Brands products, such as All Gold, Black Cat Peanut Butter, and KOO.
Currently, Tiger Brands contracts 108 farmers in Musina—38 commercial and 70 smallholder producers—creating hundreds of permanent jobs and thousands of seasonal employment opportunities.
The newly installed irrigation systems are helping farms to boost production, reduce losses from extreme weather, and redirect savings into farm expansion or diversification.
In addition to water infrastructure, Tiger Brands also provides support in crop monitoring, record-keeping, and business coaching to maintain consistent quality and ensure long-term sustainability.
This investment highlights Tiger Brands’ broader commitment to transforming South African agriculture by improving market access for historically underserved farmers and decreasing reliance on imported produce.
As families across the country enjoy the rich taste of All Gold sauce, it’s worth remembering the hardworking farmers in Limpopo—whose efforts are finally being recognized and rewarded.
