MEC Pieters kicks-off EC’s annual grain planting season in Ngcobo
THE MEC for the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Nonkqubela Pieters kicked-off the provincial grain planting season where more than 9000 farmers in the province will produce grain on 27 774 hectares through the R93 million investment of the Department.
MEC Pieters launched the cropping season at the land being produced by one of the commercial partners, the Dalasile Agri-Park (DAP) in Nkondlo, AB Xuma Local Municipality amidst much jubilation.
Speaking at the launch, MEC Pieters said one of the priorities of the department is the transformation of the grain value chain in the province.
She said the Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality will be supported with 2 025 ha under DRDAR Grain Development Partners through the Agri-park, while 1 905 ha is split between mechanization and production inputs to support smallholder grain producers.
She added that the Department was investing money in black farmers to elevate them to a commercial level while ensuring food security for families.
One of the beneficiaries Nokwandisa Mdayi says her life changed from doing menial jobs such as laundry for families in her community, to becoming a self-sustaining farmer when she joined this commercial grain production programme funded by the DRDAR through its multi-million-rand investment in the Dalasile Agri Park.
Mdayi’s story is not unique in the Eastern Cape as government is working tirelessly to ensure food security, job creation and commercialization of agriculture business enterprises.
Mdayi, an enterprising farmer from Nkondlo Village outside Ngcobo Town, is one of many farmers under the DRDAR funded Dalasile Agri-Park.
“The development in this project has transformed our lives and those of our children. I used to suffer a lot, doing laundry for people but now I am able to earn more money at the end of the month and provide for my children.”
Mdayi added that the business does not only provide opportunities for its members but also for other community members.
“During harvesting, I call women from the community to pick excess grain that is not picked up by the harvester. We pay them R120 a day,” said Mdayi.
DAP Chairperson Yanga Dalasile: “We have received an investment of R16,3 million from government under the partnership model for the past three years. But the investment that we have received for these cropping fields in the past seven-year period amounts to more than R500 million.”
He said they have more than 15 off-take agreements which enable them to sell their produce at commercial markets. “The one that has been the best is Bester which sold our Soya beans to China at R9000 per ton.”
Highlighting the positive impact of government investment in Nkondlo, Dalasile said, the area had
been known as a crime hub where all forms of violence thrived but now that bleak picture has been changed.
He says after the start of their grain business, the area is now known as “an agricultural hub of the Eastern Cape because we are the second biggest communal land-based project in the province
and we have been moving from strength to strength.”
AB Xuma Mayor Siyabulela Zangqa said the municipality has plans to construct a processing plant in the area for the production of animal feed.
“When we have a processing plant here it means that we are going to have sustainable jobs and
our fight against poverty, unemployment is going to succeed.”
For more information please contact
Masiza Mazizi
Cell: 066 0104865
Abongile Booi
Cell: 072 637 5141
