Creating sustainable community-owned enterprises
The Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Mr Gugile Nkwinti yesterday (23 July 2016) handed over a state-of- art dairy parlour, to the community of Mantusini near Port St. Johns in the Eastern Cape under the One Household-One Hectare programme.
About 400 households, who are the rightful owners of the land on which the project operates will be benefiting through the programme. This initiative is part of the Department’s Strategy on Rural Agrarian Economic Transformation aimed at poverty alleviation; job creation and the creation of sustainable community-owned enterprises.
This is an extension of the One Household One Hectare programme, through which households are allocated a one hectare portion of land for the production of crops. In addition to the dairy at Mantusini the department is giving each household two dairy cattle which will contribute to the production of dairy products.
Addressing the community during the handover of the parlour and cattle the Minister said,” this dairy parlour is yours, you will look after it and it will nourish you”. He also reminded the community of the government’s commitment to creating a better life,” in 1994 we said, a better life for all and this is that better life” he added. He further stated that the cattle that have been donated to the community will help to sustain the dairy parlour.
Chairperson of the Mantusi dairy trust representing the community, Mr. Bubele Hlangani said he was happy to see his dream realized. “We are happy to see this diary parlour opened today, and we are confident our community will truly benefit and prosper” he remarked. The project was initiated in 2005 by Minister Nkwinti while he was serving as MEC of Agriculture in the Eastern Cape, but it took off in earnest in 2011 when the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform together with its partners injected much needed support into the project.
The dairy parlour has been constructed by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in partnership with the provincial Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders. An investment of more than R18 million has been made into the project thus far.
In addition to this, an access road is under construction, addition de-bushing to expand the fields for crop production is taking place and some of the machinery that had been vandalised is being repaired.
The department’s “One Household, One Hectare” programme aims to eradicate poverty and create a class of black smallholder farmers, producers and agro-manufacturers. The programme targets state-owned and what could at best be described as traditional communal land. Beneficiaries plant and produce vegetables on state allocated hectares of land and the harvest is reaped to restore food security..
Enquiries:
Ms Linda Page – Chief Director: Strategic Communications
Tel: +27 12 312 9319
Cell: 083 4604 482/ 071 334 3479
E-mail: linda.page@drdlr.gov.za
