KZN, E Cape programme
PROJECT NUMBER: 3704-08-TRF
Background
The strategy for socio economic development involves farmers who plant potatoes mainly for food security with the remaining crop sold to the immediate community. Such farmers may or may not package their potatoes using the 10kg potato pocket. Their potato business is not consistent and in some instances they might not have enough land to grow their businesses.
Goals
- Disseminate production and business information through trials
- To give farmers practical training on good potato production practices
- To develop an economic Least Inputs for Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) programme that is aimed at sustainable potato production by small and emerging enterprises in order to utilise available land and aid to benefit an integrated production system
- Utilise cultivar or demonstration trials as a way of educating, training and disseminating important production information that is necessary for successful potato production
Objectives
- To develop the emerging farming sector from social projects to economic and sustainable potato production projects
- Keys to success and desired strategic outcomes: To develop emerging farmers by coordinating activities of strategic role players to the overall benefit of emerging farmers and thus break down the barriers to entry in the potato industry.
- To introduce at least five new successful enterprises to the industry every three years.
The process
- On a four year sliding scale, contribute financially to the inputs for demonstration trials - 100% in year one, 75% in year two, 50% in year three and 25% in year four
- On year five the inputs for trials will be generated by the project itself
- Plan the trial with the study groups or the management at each site
- Plant 0.2 ha demonstration trials at each site
- Hold an information day during harvesting
Activities
KWAZULU-NATAL
A Memorandum of Agreement between Potatoes South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs was signed in November 2008. In terms of the agreement the parties agreed to:
- Implement coherent activities in the promotion of sustainable potato production
- Avoid unnecessary duplication and not encroach unnecessarily on the activities of the other party when working on potato promotion initiatives
- Co-operate with each other in mutual trust and good faith
- Assist and support each other in respect of agreed services
- Inform each other of, and consult each other on, matters of common interest in the promotion of potato production
Specific projects to be shared
- Information and intelligence
- Skills development and transfer
- Resources
- Linkages
Identified skills development and transfer projects - demonstration trials
Plant 12 demonstration trials throughout KwaZulu-Natal, making use of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environment Affairs (KZNDAEA) managers as decided at partnership meetings. Existing potato committees to be amended to study groups in new localities made up of the lead farmer where the trial is planted, a departmental area manager, representative/s of local agribusiness or inputs suppliers, service providers and Potatoes South Africa.
Trial sites and managers
- Ixopo , Mr Johan Janse van Rensburg
- Port Shepstone / Umzumbi, Mr Dan Nene
- Wartburg, Mr Daya Chetty
- Loskop, Ms Makhosi Sithebe
- Umzimkhulu, Mrs Nozi Mvusi
- Ethekwini, Mr Giresh Naidu
- Impendle, Mr Daya Chetty
- Ilembe, Mr GM Dlamini
- Harding, Mr Dan Nene
- Umzinto, Mr Dan Nene
- Zululand, Mishack Gwala
- Amajuba,
EASTERN CAPE
In the Eastern Cape alliances have been formed with important role players such as the Eastern Cape District Department of Agriculture, Grain SA, Uvimba Bank, Lima, OR Tambo Farmers Association and Kei Fresh Produce Market. In the past trials have been planted in Tsolo Rural and Agricultural Development Institute, Port St Johns, Keiskammahoek and Engcobo.
OBJECTIVES
The objective is to determine a short, medium and long term strategy for enterprise development in the potato Industry regarding transformation in the Eastern Cape.
OVERALL BUSINESS OUTLINE
The establishment of ten enterprise development projects consisting of 0.2 of a hectare each. The projects will start from soil preparation and include all aspects right up to completion of marketing. Potential farmers will be trained during this process to produce potatoes. The proceeds will be managed by the potato committee /ORTAFA to continue the process of medium and long term development.
An interest free loan of R 5030 will be granted to ten farmers to begin this project. This will be in the form of seed, fertilizer, chemicals, spraying equipment as well as the preparation and planting of 0.2 hectares of potatoes. The loan will be paid to the potato committee/COOP from the proceeds of the sales.
This loan will be as follows (each area of 0.2ha)
30 bags of seed @ R100 R3000
4 bags 2:3:4 @ R270 R1080
Knapsack R650
Chemicals
Karate – Cutworm R20
Diathane – late blight R100
Follicular – early Blight R100
Lasso - R40
Gramoxone R40
Total cost of loan R5030
All inputs will be handled by a Coop (ORTAFA) situated on the Kei Fresh Produce Market.
ORATFA will harvest the potatoes, sort, wash and package the potatoes which will then be sold on the market.
The COOP will deduct a handling fee of 75c per pocket and reinvest the balance for the next year’s planting if successful
Transport for inputs and delivery to the market will be handled by the Department of Agriculture.
A mechanical management team will be established. It will be the duty of this team to prepare the land, do the planting and harvest the crop.
A set of implements will be supplied to the mechanical team to perform their work. A tractor at each site will be made available.
Criteria to be used for the viability will include the following:
1. Letter from Nkosi that the land can be used for a period of at least 4 years.
2. Lead farmer / entity – linkages with expertise (project manager)
3. Actively farming
4. Priority given to land reform where applicable
5. Access for farmers day
6. Access for input suppliers
7. Accessibility of site
8. Establish if bush pigs are a problem in the area
9. 0.2 ha per year thus 1 ha site available for 4 years and must be fenced
10. 800 mm soil depth
11. <30% soil acidity
12. Evaluation of at least 3 year crops – nematodes
13. Rainfall for site. (Aug to Jan)
14. Preference given to sites with irrigation
The potato committee have identified the following areas, producing a total of 688 Ha of potatoes :
Libode - 5 farmers, 19 Ha
Nqgeleni - 6 farmers, 19 Ha
Mthatha - 8 farmers, 31 Ha
Tsolo - 18 farmers, 78 Ha
Qumbu - 28 farmers, 112 Ha
Bizana - 107 farmers, 219 Ha
Thabankulu - 9 farmers, 34 Ha
Port St Johns - 18 farmers, 67 Ha
Mqanduli – 8 farmers, 25.5 Ha
Lusikisiki - 17 farmers, 84 Ha
TRAINING
Training forms one of the key objectives of this project. The project manager will be trained by a farmer or contracted party/consultant to manage the production cycle. Three visits to all the sites will be conducted by the selected party costing an estimated R16 000. The purpose of these visits is to make corrective adjustments as well as the training of appointed managers. Local farmers will attend production and marketing information days as part of the overall training process.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECTS
Parties involved in the management will be:
- Farmers
- Consultant (a farmer or service provider)
- Potato Committee/ ORTAFA
Travelling costs for PSA personnel will be assigned to individual budgets and will include three visits each for consisting of an information day (production and marketing training.) The following year the proceeds of the sales will be utilised to increase planting.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES WIILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
Potato Committee (ORTAFA)
1. Responsible for identifying usable land of 0.2ha.
2. Identify responsible caretaker / manager to look after the project.
3. Accept responsibility for any money or equipment that is loaned to the project.
4. Be accountable for money that is collected from the sale of potatoes and ensure that these funds are paid into a bank account as stated by the potato committee.
5. Potato committee to ensure that all communication regarding this crop is communicated to all concerned members.
6. Land preparation and harvesting cost will be the responsibility of the farmers. These costs may be deducted from the sale of the potatoes if agreed by all parties.
Potatoes South Africa
1. The issuing of an interest free loan for the purchase of seed potato, fertilizer, chemicals and packaging materials.
2. This loan is to be paid back to the Potato committee/ORTAFA at harvesting time.
3. Potato committee/ORTAFA pays the loan back to Potatoes South Africa.
4. If the crop has been grown successfully and all parties agree on the management structures, the loan may be increased to produce potatoes on a bigger area. However, it is expected from the farmer that once all the costs have been paid that any profit is utilised to increase the area of production in year 2
5. As these projects develop in years 2,3,4 and 5 a reliable trend will emerge on the commitment of the farmer to produce profitable potatoes. There is no doubt that all stake holders, including government, will assist in the purchase of equipment to grow this enterprise.
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