Upper Kat citrus growers anticipate growth in citrus industry

THE Upper Kat citrus growers are foreseeing a tremendous growth in the citrus commodity as this industry is the economic driver in the area.

Upper Kat citrus growers yielded and marketed a total of 576114 cartons of fruit in the past season.

The group is made of 17 black growers and one white farmer within the Amathole District who grow their fruit on a 400ha piece of land and export a large chunk of it to international markets.

Last year they raked in a combined bottom line of R94 869 136 on both exports and local sales.

Today [June 12, 2021] MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonkqubela Pieters led the citrus harvesting.

These farmers create jobs for more than 1000 locals with majority of the jobs being seasonal whilst the department placed young people(unemployed graduates)in some of these farms for experiential learning and mentorship in 2019/20 -20/21 paying market related stipend Pieters also engaged farmers on how her department can help them soar to greater heights.

“This area is known as the citrus belt of the province and it has great potential. Government alone can not create jobs but creates a conducive environment for businesses like yours to expand, create jobs and have a meaningful contribution in the country’s economy ” said Pieters.

Key challenges raised by farmers were infrastructure , title deeds and debts that were supposed to be written off but the progress is very slow.

Athol Trollip of South African Fruit Promoters who has been helping the farmers to secure funding after being rejected by banks as they don’t have title deeds said the Upper Kat citrus growers were on the right track ,their produce is of good quality and them getting title deeds will unlock all the bottlenecks in securing commercial funding.

“We are very grateful for the support that government continues to provide and we have also helped many of the farmers to secure loans so that they could purchase fresh trees as some of the farms had old trees that were no longer productive. The trees have now beard their first fruits and if this is replicated, the farmers will be able to produce more and finally break even. As we know the

demand for Vitamic C continues to rise under the covid 19 strain and the performance of the

industry is very good .In the next three years we expect our turnover to go from R96 million to R120 million,” said Trollip.

In response MEC Pieters committed that her department will liaise with National department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development through the Acting Head of Department, Mr Bongikaya Dayimani to speed up the process of title deeds and there will be further engagement with these farmers and other stakeholders that are active in the citrus commodity as close monitoring is essential to ensure that government realize the gains of the financial investments made.

Among the producers is 33 year old Siyabonga Ndzoyi of Gatyena Farm who operates on a 32. 578 ha farm with 16.9 ha under production exported 12 678 cartoons in 2020 and sold 1378 cartoons for local markets with more than R1 million in revenue.

He is also looking for more land so he can grow his production and create more jobs.

The farmers’ produce is prepared and packaged at the local Eden Agri Services pack house in Fort  Beaufort before it is shipped to international markets.

Financial breakthrough for young cannabis farmer

THE Eastern Cape government ,through its Isiqalo Fund meant to boost youth owned businesses in a bid to fight unemployment and poverty today handed over a cheque of R917 498 to a young cannabis farmer from the Nelson Mandela Metro.

Zozo Tshaka (33) is one of a few black youths who are licensed cannabis farmers in the countr. Tshaka is venturing into cultivation and agroprocessing of the cannabis plant.

Today, Premier Lubabalo Mabuyane and Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Nonkqubela Pieters officially handed over the cheque to an elated Tshaka during the Preimer’s post SOPA engagements in the city.

The Gqeberha resident started off with an accounting degree at the Nelson Mandela University but switched to agriculture which she believed was “gold”.

She said she has been pursuing her cannabis business doing research on CBD oils and production and explore primary and secondary production of the commodity.

Upon receipt of the cheque, Tshaka couldn’t not contain herself, “I am so grateful for this fund as I took a step of faith leaving my profession starting something believing that it is gold”.

Her farming activities will be conducted in Elands Rivier in Uitenhage.

Industry player sings praises about TARDI graduates

AGRICULTURE industry player Afrivet has sang praises to Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (TARDI) for the quality of graduates it produces and the impact they have made in the demanding sector since the two forged working relations in 2017.

TARDI began offering its three-year flagship diploma in Animal Health in 2015 and capped its first group of animal technicians in 2017 whom some of did their experiential training with Afrivet.

Today [May 20] the institute released another group of 51 animal technicians on a virtual graduation with limited physical attendance at TARDI’s dining hall.

Among the attendees were representatives from AgriSETA, Afrivet, Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) and the South African Veterinary Council.

Afrivet Director Vuyokazi Makapela said graduates from TARDI impressed across all respects relevant to their qualification on the field.

According to Makapela, Afrivet currently has more than 25 TARDI graduates on its learnership programme where they are receiving marketing, sales, entrepreneurship and extension services training.

“It’s inspiring to see what TARDI is doing as far as rural development is concerned. Their graduates are making a huge difference in developing subsistence farmers who are largely found in the rural areas to commercial livestock producers. They are playing a big role in improving the quality of livestock in the country as some of them are now working for established institutions,” said Makapela.

The first group of eight graduates who underwent Afrivet’s training also received their certificates in marketing, sales, entrepreneurship and extension services which are AgriSETA accredited.

Makapela said the graduates from the school have been the backbone of Afrivet’s Emthonjeni dip tank management project that is looking after 66 dip tanks in the Engcobo area.

“They can do almost everything under minimal supervision. They are able to identify diseases, recommend and even administer stock remedies,” she said.

The that received their qualifications today obtained a 100% pass rate in the eyes of the deadly coronavirus.

Principal at the school, Nandipha Ndudane attributed the success to co-operation among the TARDI community which includes the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Local Government and industry players like AgriSETA, Afrivet, Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) and South African Veterinary Council among others.

MEC for DRDAR, Nonkqubela Pieters added that partnerships between the private and public sector were imperative in the sustainability of the agricultural sector in the country.

“The agricultural sector is one of the anchors of our economy. The industry is the foundation of our livelihoods as it feeds and create employment for us all, which is why it is important for us to work together. These graduates are the human resource to carry the industry to greater heights –let’s make use of their skills even for the betterment of our subsistence farmers,” she said.

In this year’s graduation, Athandiwe Mnyanda was announced the best performing student.