Speaking notes presenting an overview of the Chicory Projects in KwaZulu-Natal by MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Cyril Xaba, Port Elizabeth
Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies
MEC for the Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Reform, Mr Mlibo Qoboshiyane
Nestlé CEO Mr Ian Donald
Executive Mayor of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Cllr Eunice Kekana
Mayor of Ndlambe Municipality, Cllr Sipho Tandani
Invited guests officials from national, provincial and local government
Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you for the opportunity to give you an overview of the fledgling chicory industry in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Unlike our Eastern Cape counterparts, we are in our infancy on this project, as chicory was not grown in KwaZulu-Natal previously.
However, there has been steady progress with yields increasing and we are confident that we are going to grow this baby into a healthy, flourishing commodity within the Uthukela District in our province. The project began in 2008 when Nestlé started looking to grow chicory near its Estcourt factory, as a way of lessening its dependence on exports from India. The company selected the Weenen area for a pilot project because of good soils and existing irrigation infrastructure. The initiative developed into a public/private partnership with Nestlé, the Municipality of Weenen, the KZN Provincial Government and a group of emerging black farmers who formed themselves into the Ubumbano Farmer’s Cooperative.
The project started on a small-scale initially with trials to test whether our heavy, clayish soils would be suitable. The Department of Agriculture’s scientists were and continue to be very involved in the project. The trials proved a success and since then, there has been a steady increase in yields. The challenge going forward has been to work towards achieving higher yields with the ultimate aim that Nestlé would not have to import but have all its chicory needs met in South Africa.
From the project so far, we have come to realise that communal emerging farmers, who are still struggling with a lack of resources, will not be in a position to reach the targets at the pace we would like. Chairman of Umbumbano, Mr Russell Mhlanga and others involved in the project have been talking to commercial farmers in the area to get them involved in growing chicory.
The KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s new strategy on agrarian transformation prescribes a commodity approach for the different districts. Chicory has been identified as the commodity to support in the Uthukela District. This means there will be a dedicated and targeted plan to support the growth of the chicory industry in the district. For example, a problem we noticed is that despite being told about the importance of weeding, some of the farmers have not been diligently carrying out this task. This has affected their yields. With the new strategy, there will be one or more extension officers who are absolute experts on chicory growing as well as on the other crops that will be in the crop rotation cycle.
They will play a role in skills upgrading and ensuring that the farmers follow correct crop production methods. From the outset, the plan on the project was to go beyond just planting chicory to beneficiation or adding value. Nestle built a mini factory on Mr Mhlanga’s farm where the raw chicory is washed, cubed and dried. A challenge so far is that the dried chicory has had to be transported here to the Eastern Cape to be roasted and this has increased the cost of our product. To overcome this problem, the Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA), bought a roaster so that the roasting can be done in Weenen and the roasted chicory sold to Nestlé.
The roaster is currently being installed and in the next few months, Mr Mhlanga and members of the cooperative are going to start trial roasting to learn the processes involved. When the partnership between Nestlé and the KZN Government first came about, the chicory endeavour was described as a catalytic project for the area. We maintain this position, especially as chicory whose production is labour intensive, means that it is a job creation boon for the Uthukela District. There is also the potential for job growth as the processing side expands.
Above all, we are committed to the project because there is tangible evidence that it is changing lives. Dr Thulasizwe Mkhabela, the CEO of ADA, has written a paper on the project. In it he quotes a beneficiary, Isaniah Masoka told him, and I quote, “I broke into a male dominated field and, against all odds, I am succeeding in my business. I now have the added comfort of having a guaranteed buyer for my output. Thanks to the initiative, I can start planning medium to long term for my children’s educational future, and even university has become a reality for them.”
Mr Mhlanga who achieved yields in the vicinity of 50 tons/ha with individual plantings of chicory, remains a firm champion of the project. He says he can see the difference it has made in the area and he sees the potential for even greater improvement. We may be in our chicory infancy as a province but we have every intention of growing this commodity to help South Africa become self-sufficient in its chicory production without having to import.
I thank you
