A multimillion-rand government agro-processing programme aimed at boosting maize production in rural Mqanduli has run into difficulty.
Close to R100-million was set aside by government to roll out the programme in Mqanduli and Ncora.
But some farmers want to opt out, claiming they have received nothing from the agency, despite providing their land for maize production.
Government rejected the claims that the programme had hit a snag.
Six primary co-operatives were set up in several farming villages around the rural town to supply a nearby government mill.
The rural enterprise development (Red) hub was launched amid fanfare by rural development and agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane last year.
Four hubs launched in the province are managed by the Eastern Cape Rural Enterprise Development Agency (ECRDA).
Communities were asked to contribute their land, and government would pay 100% of the production costs in the first year, and buy all hub-produced maize.
Six tractors and a huge harvester were provided by government and seeds came from ECRDA.
Secondary co-ops were responsible for taking maize from the primary co-operatives and sending it to the mills for processing into samp, stock feed and bran, which would then be sold.
However, several members from two of the co-operatives claimed they had not received a cent from the programme.
A Daily Dispatch team visited two primary co-operatives in Maqomeni and Ngcanasini villages last week.
Livestock was seen grazing on the maize.
In Maqomeni, members of the co-operative complained they had not been paid for their harvest last year.
“Everything was taken to the milling plant but we haven’t received anything for that harvest yet,” said co-operative chairman, Bonginkosi Mzilikazi.
“We were told they would plough for free for two years. Now we are told we actually owe government R22000. It’s causing friction among our members.
“Some people are threatening to leave the co-operative altogether,” he said.
In Ngcanasini, most of the fields are not fenced and no harvesting has taken place. Livestock were seen feasting on the maize.
Ngcanasini Primary Co-operative chairwoman Nobusile Ntelani, said people who were not part of the co-operative were allowing their animals to stray onto the maize fields.
“People are now accusing us of pocketing the money for ourselves.
“Now are scared our homes might get burned if the situation does not change.”
Sithembele Zibi, the chairman of a secondary co-operative responsible for collecting maize from the primary co-operatives, said: “Yes there are teething problems.
“People are hungry. They don’t understand that there is a waiting period. They want instant profit.”
ECRDA chief executive officer Thozi Gwanya said R350000 generated from last year’s produce was being held in a trust account and would be distributed among co-operatives later.
He said predicted yields had been affected by theft and grazing.
He said some farmers wanted to sell maize at a retail price.
“As a producer you can’t charge a retailer’s price,” he said.
He spoke of a partnership with the farmers in which it was agreed that there would be a 25% charge to be paid by co-operatives for inputs like fertilisers and diesel for the tractors used to plough the fields.
Rural development and agrarian reform provincial spokesman Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, said some cop-ops had raised the issue of fencing. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
R100m maize project hit by major snags
Close to R100-million was set aside by government to roll out the programme in Mqanduli and Ncora.
But some farmers want to opt out, claiming they have received nothing from the agency, despite providing their land for maize production.
Government rejected the claims that the programme had hit a snag.
Six primary co-operatives were set up in several farming villages around the rural town to supply a nearby government mill.
The rural enterprise development (Red) hub was launched amid fanfare by rural development and agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane last year.
Four hubs launched in the province are managed by the Eastern Cape Rural Enterprise Development Agency (ECRDA).
Communities were asked to contribute their land, and government would pay 100% of the production costs in the first year, and buy all hub-produced maize.
Six tractors and a huge harvester were provided by government and seeds came from ECRDA.
Secondary co-ops were responsible for taking maize from the primary co-operatives and sending it to the mills for processing into samp, stock feed and bran, which would then be sold.
However, several members from two of the co-operatives claimed they had not received a cent from the programme.
A Daily Dispatch team visited two primary co-operatives in Maqomeni and Ngcanasini villages last week.
Livestock was seen grazing on the maize.
In Maqomeni, members of the co-operative complained they had not been paid for their harvest last year.
“Everything was taken to the milling plant but we haven’t received anything for that harvest yet,” said co-operative chairman, Bonginkosi Mzilikazi.
“We were told they would plough for free for two years. Now we are told we actually owe government R22000. It’s causing friction among our members.
“Some people are threatening to leave the co-operative altogether,” he said.
In Ngcanasini, most of the fields are not fenced and no harvesting has taken place. Livestock were seen feasting on the maize.
Ngcanasini Primary Co-operative chairwoman Nobusile Ntelani, said people who were not part of the co-operative were allowing their animals to stray onto the maize fields.
“People are now accusing us of pocketing the money for ourselves.
“Now are scared our homes might get burned if the situation does not change.”
Sithembele Zibi, the chairman of a secondary co-operative responsible for collecting maize from the primary co-operatives, said: “Yes there are teething problems.
“People are hungry. They don’t understand that there is a waiting period. They want instant profit.”
ECRDA chief executive officer Thozi Gwanya said R350000 generated from last year’s produce was being held in a trust account and would be distributed among co-operatives later.
He said predicted yields had been affected by theft and grazing.
He said some farmers wanted to sell maize at a retail price.
“As a producer you can’t charge a retailer’s price,” he said.
He spoke of a partnership with the farmers in which it was agreed that there would be a 25% charge to be paid by co-operatives for inputs like fertilisers and diesel for the tractors used to plough the fields.
Rural development and agrarian reform provincial spokesman Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, said some cop-ops had raised the issue of fencing. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos