1.       Introduction

The third outcome of the City of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy is for the city to be “An inclusive, job intensive, resilient and competitive economy that harnesses the potential of its citizens”; this indicates that the City seeks to achieve sustainable economic development imperatives.

The Planning and Transformation department proposes that Joburg Market host a JM Farmers and SMME Day in line with the JM Transformation Agenda to promote a supportive and enabling business environment for the creation of growth opportunities, and jobs and to encourage entrepreneurship. This event will be graced by principals of institutions working on developing and promoting SMMEs in the country.

2.       Project purpose

The event will address challenges of market access, how Joburg Market (JM) works, lack of access to opportunities at JM, the lack of professional capacity, skills in agri-business, challenges in accessing land, knowledge of the industry, finance, and limited awareness of sector opportunities. This event will increase the number of emerging farmers who are currently selling their produce through the JM.

This will in turn increase the volume of produce supplied to JM by emerging farmers, thus increasing their market share at JM. Farmers will be exposed to different role players, regulations, and requirements for accessing national fresh produce markets and this is done through partnerships with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Agricultural Produce Agents Council, and Provincial Departments of Agriculture. The small business sector is a significant player in the effort to transform the country’s economic development landscape. The sector contributes towards employment creation, wealth creation and the redistribution of accumulated wealth. The small business sector also has the ability to stimulate demand for goods and services as well as facilitate the regional economic development. Emerging small businesses experience the insurmountable challenge of being capable to exploit opportunities as they become available such as the identification of procurement, trade and investment opportunities and the realization thereof in both the public and private sector.