It was a Red-letter in Lady Frere yesterday with the launch of a multi-million rand initiative to support local cooperatives and boost economic development in the rural Emalahleni local municipality.The Emalahleni Rural Enterprise Development (Red) initiative was hailed by speakers at the launch in Bangindlala village as a major step to uplift the area.
The local municipality falls under the jurisdiction of the Chris Hani district municipality.
More than 500 landowners from 13 villages in the area have formed farming cooperatives and are set to generate estimated returns totalling R46.5-million over five years, according to the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA).
A milling plant and storage silos meant for manufacturing and storage of maize meal and sorghum were unveiled yesterday as part of the project, while six tractors, a harvester and a bakkie were handed over to the Emalahleni Red.
The project has steering and technical committees in place and has already created 43 jobs.
Grain sorghum was planted in December across 829 hectares of land, and all produce will be sold on the market to generate income for the communities.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, rural development and agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said government had committed funds to undertake similar initiatives elsewhere while others were already underway in Mqanduli, Ncorha and Mbizana.
Qoboshiyane said these areas had been identified for their potential to produce specific products and markets had been identified for the produce.
Emalahleni Red general manager Gcinikhaya Mbali said the initiative would improve the lives of communities.
“This will help us to no longer be considered as emerging farmers but fully-fledged commercial farmers,” he said.
ECRDA chief executive officer Thozi Gwanya said the agency had joined the project already set up by the local municipality, CHDM and local communities.
Rural area receives development boost
The local municipality falls under the jurisdiction of the Chris Hani district municipality.
More than 500 landowners from 13 villages in the area have formed farming cooperatives and are set to generate estimated returns totalling R46.5-million over five years, according to the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA).
A milling plant and storage silos meant for manufacturing and storage of maize meal and sorghum were unveiled yesterday as part of the project, while six tractors, a harvester and a bakkie were handed over to the Emalahleni Red.
The project has steering and technical committees in place and has already created 43 jobs.
Grain sorghum was planted in December across 829 hectares of land, and all produce will be sold on the market to generate income for the communities.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, rural development and agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said government had committed funds to undertake similar initiatives elsewhere while others were already underway in Mqanduli, Ncorha and Mbizana.
Qoboshiyane said these areas had been identified for their potential to produce specific products and markets had been identified for the produce.
Emalahleni Red general manager Gcinikhaya Mbali said the initiative would improve the lives of communities.
“This will help us to no longer be considered as emerging farmers but fully-fledged commercial farmers,” he said.
ECRDA chief executive officer Thozi Gwanya said the agency had joined the project already set up by the local municipality, CHDM and local communities.
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