Despite more than two decades of democratic rule in South Africa, the country's agricultural industry is essentially unchanged, consisting of two distinct sectors: large-scale commercial white farmers and small-scale or emerging black farmers. This dual agrarian economy consists of thousands of emerging farmers who are typified by inadequate and inefficient on-farm infrastructure, a lack of arable land, uncoordinated production, and large-scale commercial farmers who produce nearly 95 per cent of agricultural products. These farmer inequalities occur against the context of South Africa’s extreme structural inequalities. Such structural inequalities require alternative solutions fostered by collaborations for mutual benefit. Some emerging and commercial farmers have combined existing livelihood resources and collaborated to establish strategic agricultural partnerships as an alternative livelihood strategy. This study explores strategic agricultural partnerships between commercial and emerging farmers as an alternative strategy for farming sustainability and social justice. The study located several strategic partnerships in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative research methodology was adopted, and methods of collecting data included interviewing nine (9) commercial and emerging farmers and two (2) focus group discussions. The sustainable livelihoods approach was employed as a theoretical framework that underpins the study. The data collected was thematically analysed using the NVivo software to develop themes. The results indicated that strategic partnerships were forged to overcome certain livelihood risks. There are also pull and push factors that influence the formation of these strategic partnerships. There were noticeable benefits, such as employment creation and export opportunities, and challenges, such as external shocks and a lack of financial and physical capital. Furthermore, strategic partnerships addressed market access issues, challenged dominant patriarchal land use, and created resilience and improved rural livelihoods. However, strategic partnerships can only be sustainable if they are inclusive and address social justice issues. This study also contributes to an emerging body of knowledge on strategic agricultural partnerships in a dual South African agrarian economy. The study’s policy recommendations include recognising these commercial-emerging farmer partnerships as contributing to the livelihood strategies of rural farming communities.

Keywords: Strategic agricultural partnerships, farming sustainability, social justice; emerging farmers; agriculture