PREMIER TO LAUNCH YOUTH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

Northern Cape Premier Dipuo Peters will tomorrow launch the Moroletsoa Fresh Produce as part of the provincial government’s drive to expand the ownership boundaries within agriculture and land reform through the economic empowerment of the youth. The National Youth Commissioner Jabu Mbalula together with other dignitaries will grace the event with their presence. The unveiling of the project by the Premier will take place at 09h00am within the precinct of the Kimberley Fresh Produce Market that is situated in Cecil Sussman Street, a stone’s throw from the Department of Local Government and Housing.

This hydroponics project was initiated by three young entrepreneurs from Galeshewe near Kimberley, Messrs Tebogo Megalanyane, Mothibi Bonokwane and Mokone Nchonyane who in 2002 established a CC amid investigating the market potential for a vegetable production enterprise. They identified unused land, previously used as a nursery at the Sol Plaatjie Fresh Produce Market, as ideal place to start with a hydroponics (greenhouse) production unit for the planting of tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers. The Greenhouse unit is made up of four tunnels fitted with heating and cooling equipment that will enable them to produce vegetables out of season.

The three youth consulted with the Department of Economic Affairs and with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform for funding and technical support to establish the project. The latter referred the matter to the Department that then opted to support the enterprise with an allocation of R414, 000.00 under the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and with the planning and the design of the greenhouse. An additional R37,840 00 was allocated from the Food Security programme for infrastructure development such as irrigation tools and safety equipment. The Department of Economic Affairs has availed R250 000 from its innovation fund for the purchase of a bakkie, office equipment and other miscellaneous expenditure.

The trio also received export readiness training through the Department’s partnership with the Cape Town based South African Agri Academy with the initial training on hydroponics management having been conducted through the Netherlands based Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI). Their know-how would assist them in ensuring a successful harvest of the first crop of cucumbers in one of the tunnels in the next three months. There are poised to undersign an Fair-Trade exporting contract in October this year.

They negotiated with the Sol Plaatje Municipality for rental of the unused land.

The Municipality elected to lease the land to them at highly favourable terms in support to the project:

No rental to be paid under condition that produce to be marketed through the fresh produce market;

Rebate on electricity and water (pay only 40% of normal tariff) for three years;

Committed R277 000 for drainage, construction of house for irrigation tanks, paving, high security fence for tunnel protection and office; and

Offered assistance through market agents in the sale of fresh produce.

The Department of Labour supported the three beneficiaries of the project and its five youth workers with training in hydroponics crop production techniques. The 5 beneficiaries of the project intent to co-opt the two female workers of the project into their shareholder structure. END

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi 083 255 8840 tmothibi@grand.ncape.gov.za