Manyeding – The Manyeding Agricultural Co-operative project is successfully winning the fight against poverty and food shortages in the villages east of Kuruman, in the Northern Cape.
“The demand for our produce from the neighbouring villages is very high and with the support that we are getting from both government and the private sector, this agricultural project will never become a white elephant,” Agricultural Co-Operative Chairperson, Boitshoko Moacwi told SAnews, today.
The co-operative is part of government’s Food Production Intervention programme called Fetsa Tlala (End Hunger). Fetsa Tlala aims to promote self-sufficiency by supporting communities to produce food on communal and under-utilised land.
President Jacob Zuma will later this afternoon visit the Manyeding project as part of the official launch of Fetsa Tlala.
Moacwi said their co-operative -- with a total of 159 beneficiaries from Manyeding and the surrounding villages -- is situated on a 137-hectare land. They produce organic vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, green beans, cabbage and pumpkins.
He said since the establishment of the co-operative in 2010, many jobs have been created for the locals.
“We have 24 permanent employees and I must tell you that people from this area are no longer traveling to Kuruman town to buy vegetables because they know that we are the ones who are supporting Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar with our fresh produce.”
There are three tractors at the project and a center-pivot irrigation system - a highly efficient system, which helps conserve water.
Since they have connected water pipes from a fountain situated at about 4.5km into their small dam, Moacwi said they were thinking of expanding their project by producing bottled water.
He further said the provincial Department of Agriculture has committed R5 million to the project, which also covers the construction of their package storage facility.
The stakeholders involved in the project include Kumba Iron Ore; the National Development Agency (NDA); the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; the Baga Jankie Tribal Authority; the Joe Morolong Local Municipality and John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.
Managing heading of sustainable development at Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine, Mashilo Mokotong, said: “We are really happy about … the success of this project.
“Of the 27 community projects that we are funding, this is the only one where, there are no squabbles for leadership position or tribal factions. The fact that their produce are in demand, to us show that they are indeed winning their fight against hunger, poverty and food insecurity.”
Mokotong said since 2010, they have pumped a total of R10 million into the project, with R1.4 million for this financial year.
“In September 2009, Kumba, government and the Manyeding community identified the need to create a sustainable agricultural business in the community, leading to employment, skills development and economic empowerment.
“We have contracted OrganiMark to train all the employees at the project on organic management skills,” he said.
Fetsa Tlala
Fetsa Tlala aims to promote self-sufficiency by supporting communities to produce food on communal and under-utilised land in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the North West.
The main commodities are maize, beans, wheat, sunflower, ground nuts and potatoes, among others. Once the crops are produced and harvested, government will ensure there is sufficient support for small, medium and micro enterprises in the processing sectors, for example to mill or pack the vegetables.
During September 2013, Cabinet passed the integrated food and nutrition security policy.
The policy was the collaborative work of the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), and Social Development (DSD).
Fetsa Tlala will be financed through, amongst others, the Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme (CASP). Allocations to provinces will be dedicated to food production, either crop or livestock production.
CASP is the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries’ premier support programme and is funded through the Division of Revenue Act (DORA).
Through Fetsa Tlala, one million hectares of productive agricultural land, which has been lying fallow is targeted for production over a period of five years. - SAnews.gov.za
