Enterprise iLembe’s ambitious programme to develop agri-processing hubs at four centres in the iLembe District on the KZN North Coast is starting to bear fruit. Centred around job creation and co-operative management and ownership, one of the four hubs is already up and running and producing, while another is almost there.
According to Enterprise iLembe CEO Kanyi Gasa, the aim of the project is to establish four greenhouses, one indigenous nursery and one packhouse, along with processing facilities. “This is definitely our most exciting project. We’re at the stage now when we can see tangible results and it’s important that we build on our energy to keep the people involved motivated. What’s so exciting about this project is that there is a chance for farmers/growers to become co-owners in this venture.”
The first greenhouse at Matrons Farm, Mandeni, is already erected, and all the water and electrical requirements have been installed, including the water reservoir, pumps and irrigation systems. The greenhouse has been built with the need to conserve water in mind – the facility recycles water and also makes use of JoJo tanks.
The growing medium and tomato seedlings have been bought and the greenhouse is now producing tomatoes, with the first crop due to be harvested in October. About three tons a week is expected. In addition, a storehouse and packhouse have been built, which will be used to store equipment and to wash and clean tomatoes ready to be sent to market.
The second greenhouse at Bulwer Farm in KwaDukuza is about 80% complete and will be up and running by the end of the month, while the third and fourth greenhouses (Maphumulo and Ndwedwe) are due for completion by the end of November this year. The processing facility at Bulwer Farm will be completed by September 30 – the premises is secure and construction to repair and alter the existing building under way.
Some of the targets are:
- To produce 1st grade tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers;
- identify suitable markets for product;
- supply export quality product to world markets;
- create community-ownership structures for each of the four sites for the community’s benefit;
- create employment opportunities at each of the sites;
- build sustainable market linkages, linking producers to export agents or buying agents;
- develop a packhouse/processing facility for value adding.
There are also plans for an indigenous plant and tree nursery along the Mvoti River, which will incorporate an existing co-operative, and a packhouse and vegetable processing facility for the Ndwedwe area.
“There are exciting opportunities for small scale BEE farmers in the area,” said Gasa. “We’ve told the people, if you grow what we request then we will take it from you and process it through our packing facilities. There are opportunities for ownership in this structure and employment at our hydroponic tunnels.”
The project will see the following job opportunities once it’s complete:
- 10 permanent jobs per greenhouse
- 22 seasonal jobs per greenhouse
- 34 indirect jobs (drivers, packers, vegetable processing)
Each greenhouse is about 2 650s qm.
Gasa described the agri-processing venture as a learning process, but said establishing the last two hubs at Maphumulo and Ndwedwe would be a lot easier, “as we’ve now learned from those small mistakes”.
When I meet Gasa she’d just returned from a trip to Europe and says there are definite opportunities to export fresh flowers to Holland, for example, while she had been speaking to potential investors in Finland.
“This project has real potential and we’ll hope people will see this as an example of what we can do.” – By Garth Johnstone
For further info contact: Enterprise iLembe. Telephone: 032 946 1256. E-mail: info@enterpriseilembe.co.za