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Scaling Partnerships to Activate Idle Community Land in South Africa

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  • Bailey Klinger
  • Ivan Ordonez
  • Federico Sturzenegger

Abstract

We discuss three cases of corporate-smallholder partnerships in South Africa’s former homelands, which have tried to bridge the problem of low productivity by supplying technology, technical assistance and financing along with established channels for sales and distribution. The cases are indicative of some key difficulties faced by such ventures: building trust, finding a suitable partner, successfully transferring technological to small farms, and reducing risk, particularly climate-related. In order for these types of partnerships to help close the gap between South Africa’s two agricultures, solutions to these problems must be provided at greater scale. We explore mechanisms to achieve that scale, drawing lessons from South Africa’s successful franchising sector, as well as newly emerging business models and technologies from abroad.

Suggested Citation

  • Bailey Klinger & Ivan Ordonez & Federico Sturzenegger, 2023. "Scaling Partnerships to Activate Idle Community Land in South Africa," Growth Lab Working Papers 214, Harvard's Growth Lab.
    • Handle: RePEc:glh:wpfacu:214
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    File URL: https://growthlab.cid.harvard.edu/sites/projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/growthlab/files/2023-05-cid-fellows-wp148-scaling-partnerships-south-africa.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    South Africa; agriculture;

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