Commercialisation is taking rural communities by storm in the province as more small-scale farmers are starting to cluster together in order to produce and sell in bulk to commercial markets.
On Monday, 15 farming associations in Matyengqina village outside Mthatha launched one main association – Viedgesville Farmers Structure (VFS ) – under which they will operate and trade in the commercial markets.
The farmers have taken heed of the department of rural development and agrarian reform’s
(DRDAR) new agriculture economic transformation strategy, which seeks to commercialise farming in the predominantly rural province.
Clustered under the VFS are different commodities, which include crop producers, poultry, piggery, wool production, red meat producers and sewing projects.
DRDAR MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said for the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal area, the department budgeted R4.2-million for boreholes at Ncise Lower, Xhongorha, Upper Centuli, Ngcengane and Gxididi.
“This will provide water for livestock. DRDAR has also reconstructed and de-silted a dam here in the Matyengqina area to supply water to livestock of four villages in the ward such as Matyengqina, Newrest, Newtown and Mabheleni,” said Qoboshiyane.
To ensure the quality of wool produced by farmers in this ward, the department donated 27 quality breed rams – 12 in Mabheleni, eight in Matyengqina and seven rams in Gwegwe. Also villages including Matyengqina, Viedgesville, Centuli and others will benefit.
As part of upskilling youth in the agriculture sector of the area, the department provided an eight-month learnership, that benefited 20 youth from the area.
VFS chairman Mlulamisi Ngwenze said all this would enable them to sell in bulk, bringing in much-needed income as the farmers come from poor families in villages that are plagued by unemployment and violence.
“When you farm as an individual it doesn’t help as you won’t be able to supply to the markets like we can now that we are working together. Also when you work as an individual, it is difficult to get assistance from government whereas it is easier to get government support when you are working in structured groups,” said Ngwenze.
Local farmer Nomhle Madyibi said the 15 farming associations said the clustering would create entrepreneurial opportunities for people in the villages.
Madyibi said the farming structure would bring about much financial gains that would assist in improving the areas employment figures.
“As farmers, I believe it will be more productive to work as a united force rather than in silos. The cluster will be of great assistance when we are working as a united force in approaching and selling to the markets. If we are not united, then we will be weakened and unable to capitalise on the financial opportunities that can be gained from the clustering,” she said.
In the past DRDAR has contributed seedlings to some of the projects under the cluster and a further 800 seedlings were shared among the farming households and were complemented with bags of fertiliser, potatoes and Lan.
Qoboshiyane also called on farmers to work together in order to achieve the rural development goals.
“It is important to note that, in line with the province’s agriculture economic transformation strategy that seeks to foster partnerships, these targets will be realised in partnership with Grain Farmers Development Association, Grain SA, Growth Force and Wiphold. Through this investment, we hope to create a total of 1100 job opportunities,” he said.
The MEC further called on farmers to work with the department in order to improve their livestock. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Farmers on new trajectory
On Monday, 15 farming associations in Matyengqina village outside Mthatha launched one main association – Viedgesville Farmers Structure (VFS ) – under which they will operate and trade in the commercial markets.
The farmers have taken heed of the department of rural development and agrarian reform’s
(DRDAR) new agriculture economic transformation strategy, which seeks to commercialise farming in the predominantly rural province.
Clustered under the VFS are different commodities, which include crop producers, poultry, piggery, wool production, red meat producers and sewing projects.
DRDAR MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said for the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal area, the department budgeted R4.2-million for boreholes at Ncise Lower, Xhongorha, Upper Centuli, Ngcengane and Gxididi.
“This will provide water for livestock. DRDAR has also reconstructed and de-silted a dam here in the Matyengqina area to supply water to livestock of four villages in the ward such as Matyengqina, Newrest, Newtown and Mabheleni,” said Qoboshiyane.
To ensure the quality of wool produced by farmers in this ward, the department donated 27 quality breed rams – 12 in Mabheleni, eight in Matyengqina and seven rams in Gwegwe. Also villages including Matyengqina, Viedgesville, Centuli and others will benefit.
As part of upskilling youth in the agriculture sector of the area, the department provided an eight-month learnership, that benefited 20 youth from the area.
VFS chairman Mlulamisi Ngwenze said all this would enable them to sell in bulk, bringing in much-needed income as the farmers come from poor families in villages that are plagued by unemployment and violence.
“When you farm as an individual it doesn’t help as you won’t be able to supply to the markets like we can now that we are working together. Also when you work as an individual, it is difficult to get assistance from government whereas it is easier to get government support when you are working in structured groups,” said Ngwenze.
Local farmer Nomhle Madyibi said the 15 farming associations said the clustering would create entrepreneurial opportunities for people in the villages.
Madyibi said the farming structure would bring about much financial gains that would assist in improving the areas employment figures.
“As farmers, I believe it will be more productive to work as a united force rather than in silos. The cluster will be of great assistance when we are working as a united force in approaching and selling to the markets. If we are not united, then we will be weakened and unable to capitalise on the financial opportunities that can be gained from the clustering,” she said.
In the past DRDAR has contributed seedlings to some of the projects under the cluster and a further 800 seedlings were shared among the farming households and were complemented with bags of fertiliser, potatoes and Lan.
Qoboshiyane also called on farmers to work together in order to achieve the rural development goals.
“It is important to note that, in line with the province’s agriculture economic transformation strategy that seeks to foster partnerships, these targets will be realised in partnership with Grain Farmers Development Association, Grain SA, Growth Force and Wiphold. Through this investment, we hope to create a total of 1100 job opportunities,” he said.
The MEC further called on farmers to work with the department in order to improve their livestock. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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