EASTERN CAPE TODAY Thursday, 11 December 2008, p. 13
Asgisas
plans
shape For
projects
as
long
too
large tracts
land
of
government plans for the the latest developments in
area
lans to make the former Transkei the bread basket
p
one
of
of
Growth
South
Africa
under
for
Cape Agriculture and Programme,
its
Transkei.
food on the table very difficult
it is
Food security is a key element of the project because ensures
it
people
(EC),
can
long
plans
units,
themselves
medium
the
goal
term
our
that
sustain
until
AgroProcessing
manage one million livestock put 40000ha under irrigated cultivation and 500000ha
to
area.
life.
in the
Eastern
reports
farmers to be talking or even dream about a better
high
six
Accelerated Shared Innitiative
former
now
bare,
Dayimani
Bulelwa
shape.
take
and
people
million
1,2
uncultivated
lain
implementation
area.
(AsgiSA)
the
to
have
ahead
go
for
the
impact priority projects
the
every day,
Africa, are
advancing quickly with
the
in
Without
Eastern Cape,
of the
not South
if
for
Transkei
begining
are
taking
the
get
the former
in
bold on
Transkei
for
to
selling
of
maize and other crops to national markets, is met, Somydala said in a statement.
under dry-land cultivation.
Over the next five years, Production is focused on food that estimates communities followed Somdyala for 111000 hectares, 400000 by industrial crops for livestock units as well as bio-fuel agro-processing and four maize mills, ten feedlots, production. Crops targeted over houses and lots, five pack medium to long term are the maize, soya beans, canola. sunflowers, a meat processing unit will security
sugar
flowers,
cane,
which cropping canola
now
intercropping
set
is
good
that
More
6,400ha
than
will
Achievable in
place
milestones for
other
the
programmes which
are
tourism, water resource development,
hydro and alternative and human
be
rural parts
the
in
scoped.
four
rains have fallen in the region. planted
afforestation
will be identified and
are
to
programme,
hectares
suitable land for
programme,
soybean,
sunflower,
and
underway
get
entails
maize,
of
forestry
the
100000 of
integrated cropping
The
For
fruit
and leather.
diary, meat
established.
be
production. Other targeted produce includes
sugar beet and
energy,
of
Transkei region covering following municipalities: Mhlontlo, Matatiele, Mbashe, King Sabatha Dalindyebo and Ingquza local municipalities. Each area planted is made of commercial blocks of land measuring on average about 300ha. EC statement AsgiSA In a Chairman, Saki Macozoma, said Asgisa EC was
the
settlement.
the
He added that due to the magnitude of the agricultural programme, it is critical THIS IS OUR WEALTH: The Chief Executive Officer the maize projects in Qumbu. that a formalised engine all is developed to manage
established
make
parts.
projects
the
A
key
instrument is
model
the
tangible
a
the
which
to
in this
agribusiness
formalises
relationships
between
the
projects
strategic
partners
difference such
lives of
the
in
rural people
Our remains create
as
farmers,
financiers,
in
development
province.
the
finance
plan
institutions,
bulk
to a
input
vibrant
and
suppliers,
other
sustainable
as
rural
economy regions
suppliers
in
the
involved
offtake
agreements.
natural
assets such land,
as
and
Piloting
water
MACOZOMA
SAKI
scenic
the
start in
There is dire imperative
unemployment where seven
in
show
to
our
the
that
poverty
and every
ten
poverty,
with
live
adding
people
said
he
organisations
ultimate goal, together
with
strategic public and private partners,
economy
is
province and
Mzimvubu
to
rural
of
in
its sector
Eastern
Cape
particular, the
area which
is
one of
most underdeveloped areas. CEO Simpiwe Somydala said were
two
lead
agriculture and
earnest and
projects.
and
agroprocessing,
forestry which
being focused on.
The
It
is
essential
that there
is
which can mentoring body may not assist farmers who have all the skills to fully maximise their land resources. the necessary Without skills, these families, whose land is their most important asset, source of security and extremely status, ill find it a
implementation of the integrated cropping programme signalsmajor major contribution to
difficult
establishing better food security
are
to
farm.
notwithstanding
programme
of of
viability
for
dam.
2008
a
has
the
forestry
fields
been
have
lying flat for
time. We
afforestation,
of existing forests, and the of
downstream
m an
u
r
i
could
not
address hunger
and
President of the National
issues
without cropping
2,60() million cubic tons ofwater. Yet today only five percent and
is
used
for
irrigation
other uses. There
m
e
r
s
the
our
is
the support of an
Elliotdale
needed organisation
as AsgiSA. The presence of AsgiSA Eastern Cape will change our livelihoodsfor the better. They came at the right time where our fields have been lying flat
such
for
a
We
long time.
could issues
resource
r
in
Sorndyala said that a number parties have shown an appetite for hydro energy. The river is the source of
this
a
Union in Eastern said Cape that farmers
rural
life.
used.
of
F
n g
opportunities. The increased forestry plantation area is expected to add 1,5 million cubic metres of timber per annum, which will lead to further opportunities for wood for processing. One of the longer term projects is to look at how the Mzimvubu River resource can be
of
the Valley
Farmers
long
a
because in the areas cropping
development u
chairman
Co-operative
management
t
Mxoli Tsomo
improved
c
a
good year for the organisation. However, there is no doubt that without our strong, robust and transparent relationships with our municipalities, organised farmers and government, we would not achieve these goals,
of
Our
base
fa
been
expects
support growth of provinces
the
building
the
Poto,
to
the difficult economic
we circumstances which experiencing. Somdyala
locations which are
19
the
years,
of
Mhlontlo has been identified as a pilot programme. services which Other key the model delivers is access to markets, skills development, support, agricultural input business, field and technical support schemes.
restructure the
the
namely
25
will
2009
their potential, reduce
people
there
model
over
are
also being looked at in terms
The efforts have led to decisions which will bring certainty to license applications says Macozoma. covering some 30000ha. Over the next
through new
beauty. a
the sector.
with
well
those
as
by
unlocking
pointed out. Regarding the forestry programme, AsgiSA Eastern Cape is working closely with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to overcome some of the licensing challenges associated
implementation
AsgiSA, Simphiwe Somdyala, pointing at one of Picture by Buleiwa Dayimani.
of
because is
not address hunger without cropping
the rural areas cropping
in
our
life.
We
are
confident
that the black farmers wifl step forward,
AsgiSA
Poto stated.
Cape is also involve this co-operative which has IS farms comprising of 7400 hectares, in its Ike-
to
Eastern
programme.
stock
has been
a
farmer
Poto,
for
15
initiative will
says this
who
years, really
change the lives of farmers. Agriculture and farming is what the Eastern Cape knows best, but over
years
the
agricultural
practise has deteriorated
many places where farming potential, the land has been neglected. AsgiSA Eastern Cape also has planned processes in place to develop the skills and capacity and
there
in
is
local farmers.
of
Some
ofthe ploughing fields
for more Ikestock now we are excited to see that something is being done to eradicate poverty
have
not been
used
than ten years and
in
our
involving
community us
in
the
and also project,
Nokuzola Scwebu, ward committee member at Mhlontlo municipality. The project will help the invest what land owners to they produce in order to have funds to produce food for the following year. The project is about getting farmers from the former Transkei into commercial farming. The main aim is from depending to get people away on grants and make their own income. The main aim of AsgiSA is to energise economic viability where of the communities said
there
are
AsgiSA
projects
to
poverty and render people who are more capable of taking care of themselves in ternis of income, said Dr Ar Board member chic Nkonveni of AsgiSA. eradicate