10 Ncora Cooperatives Reap Solid Returns
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Inkqubela August 2015 01 | Inkqubela Harvest Edition NCORA Silos have been built along with other forms of mechanisation units such as tractors and a milling plant NCORA: Ten primary cooperatives in “The Jobs Fund contributed 80% of the by these communities. the Ncorha Irrigation Scheme in Cofim- funds while the remaining 20% is split 10 Ncora vaba have become the first beneficiaries equally between ECDC and ECRDA. Phumzile Boyani, chairman of the of a R91 million agro-processing initia- There are 10 villages surrounding the Ncorha/Qhumanci Producers Assembly tive managed by the Eastern Cape Rural scheme and villages have been organ- Secondary Cooperative around which Cooperatives Development Agency (ECRDA) and the ised to structure the management of the the 10 cooperatives are organised, says Eastern Cape Development Corporation scheme into a Producers Assembly where once the yield is determined after the (ECDC). each village is represented. A milling harvest, the scheme will decide how Reap Solid plant is being established where the pro- much should go back to the landowners. The Development Bank of Southern Af- cessing of the maize crop will be done, “This is usually between 5 – 10% of the rica (DBSA) Jobs Fund agro-processing silos have been built and mechanisation yield and the rest is sold to the market. Returns initiative has allocated a total of R91 mil- units are being established in the form Revenues generated from the sale of the lion over a three year period to ECRDA of tractors and related equipment,” says maize goes back into planting for the and ECDC for the implementation of the ECRDA chief executive Thozi Gwanya. new season and to add extra hectares. from R91 million agro-processing initiative. This cash in- The committees of the primary coopera- jection has resulted in 955 hectares (ha) The initiative is managed along the tives manage the funds and decide with agro-processing in 2013/14 and 1003 ha in 2014/15 being ECRDAs RED Hub concept which priori- the communities how it is to be used,” planted after the cooperatives set aside tises the village as the centre of opera- says Boyani. 1 000 ha of their land for the cultivation tion. In practice, the RED Hub concept The initiative is managed along of white maize for the benefit of 706 means that maize should be grown by the ECRDAs RED Hub concept beneficiaries who are the landowners. the community, milled in the community, The Ncorha Irrigation Scheme is 5000ha processed and packaged in the commu- which prioritises the village as the in extent, with 3000ha under irrigation, nity and even sold back into the commu- centre of operation. whilst the remaining 2000ha is dry land. nity with the whole process being owned Ncora by numbers R91m 1000ha 5000ha allocated to ECRDA & ECDC land for the cultivation of of land for the Ncorha over 3 years for the white maize for the benefit Irrigation Scheme with 3000ha implementation of the of 706 beneficiaries who under irrigation, whilst the agro-processing initiative are the landowners remaining 2000ha is dry land 02 | Inkqubela Harvest Edition 03 | Inkqubela Harvest Edition Editor’s Note About Rural Enterprise Areas Under PRIMARY COOPERATIVE NAME PLANNED LAND SIZE HA PLANTED LAND SIZE YIELD ESTIMATE TONS Ndenxe Sgangeni 136 145 696 Cultivation In Ncora Development (Red) Hubs Botani/Maqomeni 132 134 549.4 (yield estimates) Chotoni Nonkqayi Tshayelela 106 99 336.6 ECRDAs RED Hub concept prioritises the village as the centre of operation. The RED Jumba Matafeni 149 134 469 Hub concept has at its core a Mega Farm approach which emphasises the establishment Ngcagca 100 97 281 of viable economic units which entail pulling together fallow land in rural communities and turning these dormant assets into productive clusters. Examples of this work are Fameni 80 82 98.4 in Ncorha, Mqanduli and Mbizana in the Intsika Yethu, King Sabatha Dalindyebo and Mgababa 40 44 42.7 he launch of this harvest is a memorable and Mbizana local municipalities respectively. Lower Ncorha 90 90 288 deeply emotional milestone for those of us plying Tour trade in the rural development space. Rural Mzola 92 102 357 development is a challenging yet rewarding experience which requires years of hard work and covering a lot of Tshatshu Mahlathini 75 76 49.4 ground in order to bring our communities to a place Alfred Nzo of common purpose. This edition takes us through the RED HUBS 1000 1003 3167.8 journey of the last three years which has led to the es- tablishment of four Rural Enterprise Development (RED) Presence in the Hubs in the province. These RED Hubs should become Eastern Cape a lasting legacy for our communities in the rural setting Joe Gqabi offering immense wealth generation opportunities. However, it is worth acknowledging that all of this work Maize Project Revitalises could not have been achieved without the support of various partners such as the Eastern Cape Develop- ment Corporation, Development Bank of Southern Af- O.R. Tambo Chris Hani Once Barren Land At rica Jobs Fund, Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform among others. We pay special tribute to the teams of ECRDA and ECDC social facilitators who have criss-crossed the province bringing our communi- Ndexe/Sgangeni Villages ties to a place of common agreement in order to effect Amathole the desired socio-economic change. Cacadu Thanks also go to the communities which have allowed Cacadu us to help turn their parcels of land into productive assets Buffalo City Metro Some 145 hectares of with a vast potential for wealth and income generation. ESTABLISHMENT OF MECHANISATION UNIT: white maize were planted Please enjoy. NobaTembu Pako • Eight tractors of different sizes, in Ndexe/Sgangeni with • two trailed harvesters, yield estimates at 4,8 tons • implements and bakkie procured per hectare. Some 696 CEO’s Message Nelson Mandela tons are expected to be Bay Metro harvested. NCORA: What was once 300 hectares of for themselves. agro-processing/trading post initiative. Emalahleni Mqanduli fallow untilled land at Ndenxe and Sgan- The Jobs Fund will contribute 80% of the geni villages in Ncora, at the Chris Hani “Since the cooperative’s inception, we funds while the remaining 20% is split 829ha 936ha District Municipality has seen a remark- have been able to put food on our own equally between the two implementing of land is planted with grain sorghum with an of land is planted with white maize with an able revival of its agricultural potential tables and in the process, lessen the im- agents. expected yield of 912tons expected yield of 1 526tons with the establishment of the Ndenxe/ pact of poverty. As a means of encour- Sigangeni Primary Cooperative in 2010. aging the participation of each member, “Known as the DBSA Jobs Fund Agro- Driven by a uniform desire to improve we agreed on a set daily stipend for self- processing Initiative, the programme I am excited to launch this harvest edition of Inkqube- Ncora Mbizana their income generation ability as well sustenance. seeks to address production challenges, la! At ECRDA the launch of this edition is a proud as improving food security in the area, availability of storage facilities, process- moment because it is a culmination of years of hard 2925ha 1003ha 986ha 208 landowners from the two villages “We knew the potential our fertile lands ing and marketing activities in rural com- work. Over the last three years, ECRDA has under- of white maize across 3 of the RED Hubs with an of land is planted with white maize with an of land is planted with white maize with an SILOS & MILLING PLANT: clubbed together to establish a joint hold and we had to take ownership of our munities. Production costs are high in gone an exciting process which has led to the estab- expected combined yield of 5 534 tons expected yield of 2 828 tons expected yield of 1 180 tons venture which began a process of turn- development and growth as a communi- the developing sector which discourag- lishment of four Rural Enterprise Development (RED) • Milling shed nearing completion ing their fallow lands into a productive ty. With our minds made up, we immedi- es most farmers from farming,” ECRDA Hubs in the Eastern Cape. • Installation of two new 1000 ton silos complete with asset. ately began fencing our land to protect it agronomist Luvo Qongqo explains. conveying equipment. from livestock damage in preparation for This RED Hub model prioritises the village as the cen- • Weigh bridge next to trading shed. Not an exception, Ncorha is located in the planting season,” Kanzi says. Qongqo says Ndenxe/Sigangeni is only tre of operation. For example, this means that pro- a breathtaking picturesque untapped one of 10 primary cooperatives in Ncorha duce should be grown by the community, milled in ABOUT the community, processed and packaged in the com- landscape with rolling green hills typical The retired 60-year old prison warder who benefitted from the programme munity and even sold back into the community with of the imposing Eastern Cape rural set- adds that “as a start-up we were also in the last year. A total of 1003ha were the whole process being owned by these communi- NCORA RED ting. One of the cooperative’s directors equally aware that there was only so planted in Ncorha benefitting some 706 ties. ECRDA is therefore excited it has taken the nec- Zingile Kanzi describes a setting “boast- much we could do on our own as we did people with a total of 55 temporary jobs essary steps to achieve all the elements of the RED HUB 2014/15 ing hills that lie covered in green, sway- not have the necessary funds to begin created.