The first visit of the Eastern Cape MEC for the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) Nomakhosazana Meth to Mqanduli RED Hub was warmly welcomed by the stakeholders.
Long-time chairperson of the Hub Sithembele Zibi said the constant visit by various politicians from both the province and nationally, especially MECs and Ministers dealing with agriculture and rural economy development was “inspiring us to do more.”
“There is a lot of inspection from people including politicians and other stakeholders. This is making us to be on our toes and do more. We are happy that you are here so that you can advise us,” Zibi said.
Zibi said the Hub is made of 11 primary cooperatives that have a capacity of producing 564 tons of maize in 911 hectors of land and it has employed 25 permanent employees while each cooperative hire about 15 or more people during the harvesting seasons.
Due to the severe drought conditions, Zibi said unfortunately only 4 cooperatives have planted maize this year and for the milling plant to operate they will have to buy maize from other farmers in the province and beyond. Asked if they had any complaints by the MEC, Zibi confidently pronounced; “We do not have any complaints, it’s all praises for the support we have received. For the first time in our lives of ploughing maize, we saw real money when this Hub started (in 2013/14 financial year). We cannot step out of it now and we cannot let anyone stop it because we are making money.”
The Mqanduli RED Hub has machinery including 10 tractors, self-propelled combine harvester, oneton bakkie and two tractor trailers. The grain silos have a capacity of carrying 2 500 tons of maize and has a calibrated weighbridge connected to a computer that measures the incoming grain DRDAR also provided fencing of the arable land to member cooperatives. The main market of the products of the milling plant that include mealie mealie, samp and animal feed are Spar EC, Umtiza Farmers Corp, Isithebe Business network, social grants pay points and walk-ins.
The Red Hubs works with stakeholders that include DRDAR, ECRDA, national Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, local and district municipalities, First Business SA as well as Umtiza Farmers Corp and Humansdorp Co-op. MEC Meth said she was “excited” to see the that Hub is still operational and going “stronger by day.” “This is an encouraging business enterprise in a rural town hence it is important to support it,” Meth said.