The Northern Cape provincial government handed over farming implements worth R6.7 million to the Richtersveld Communal Property Association in the Namakwa District.
FARMING implements worth R6.7 million were handed over by the Northern Cape provincial government to the Richtersveld Communal Property Association (CPA) in the Namakwa District.
The Richtersveld Growers project, which is situated on the banks of the Orange River and is owned by the Richtersveld CPA, harvests maize, raisin grapes, almonds, lucerne and seed potatoes on irrigation farms – Dunvlei, Beauvallon, Brandkaros, Beesbank and Arriesdrft.
The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole, visited the Richtersveld Growers project on Tuesday to unveil the production implements for potatoes and assess the readiness of the raisins harvesting season.
The department purchased a potato planter, two potato harvesters and two potato trailers valued at R3.2 million for the project.
Manopole added that the department would also purchase and donate a maize/wheat harvester, a drying facility for raisins and a centre pivot to the value of R3.5 million.
“Because of the potential and positive signs of growth, the department has invested R8.3 million into the project. This will result in a total production of 171 hectares of maize, 27 hectares of raisins grapes, 10 hectares of almonds, 89 hectares of lucerne and 13 hectares of seed potatoes in the next few years,” said the MEC.
“Currently, the project has produced 13 hectares of seed potatoes, 54 hectares of lucerne, 121 hectares of maize and 12 hectares of raisin grapes planted at the Beauvallon farm.”
Manopole indicated that 35 hectares of maize was planted at the Dunvlei farm. “An extra 15 hectares of raisin grapes, 15 hectares of maize and 35 hectares of lucerne in the Brandkaros farm is under production.
“The project has the potential to become one of the flagship projects in the Namakwa District,” said Manopole.
She stated that 60 jobs were created through the project, while it had the potential of creating even more jobs over the next four years.
“We have invested a lot of money in the project with the hope of seeing the livelihood of the people of Richtersveld and surrounding areas being restored and impacted positively. We are happy with the work that has been done by the CPA and strategic partners in making sure that they turn the project into an economic powerhouse of the Province.”
Manopole said that she was engaging with other stakeholders, such as the Land Bank and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), to assist the government to transform the agricultural sector.
“The floods from the nearby Orange River are threatening food security in the area and we are working hard to get money to complete the flood wall that will cost more than R500 million.”
The CPA representative, Abraham Cloete, said the implements would assist farmers to increase production and enable them to sell potato seeds to commercial farmers.
