TWO of the Eastern Cape’s infrastructure projects funded
by the national and provincial government received thumbs up from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries during its first quarter monitoring visit to the province.

DAFF’s Comprehensive Agriculture Support Program (CASP) Chief Director, Elder Mtshiza, said the construction
of the nut processing factory at Ncerha Macadamia and the construction of the Ripplemead Packhouse in Ngqushwa are some of the best projects implemented by DRDAR. “I think these two projects will remain the landmarks of the potential that CASP and Ilima Letsema can bring in reviving rural economies within the agricultural space. Well done to the Eastern Cape team.

This is not the end because these farmers still need to be supported moving forward.

I think the job will be much easier with such infrastructure,” said Mtshiza. Mtshiza said government’s policy objective was to transform the sector to have real black farmers that are controlling and owning value chains, skill farmers and black land owners whose land was not producing due to lack of resources and skills to create jobs to feed the nation. DRDAR’s Head of Infrastructure, Thandeka April said Ncerha and Ripplemead were good investments by the provincial government, adding that she was confident that farmers at both facilities were ready to operate the newly built structures with machinery.

“The macadamia farmers, whose de- husking factory is already running, are gaining a lot from the new nut cracking factory because they used to pay double the price when transporting the nuts to Durban for cracking but now they are paying less because they now transport less load without the shells,” said April.

“Ripplemead farmers have been running the commercial packhouse for a long time. I am confident that they will succeed in running the new facility,” said April, adding that she was happy with the work done at both Ncerha and Ripplemead.