Tractor boosts Centane co-op
HER farmer father taught her all she knows about farming – and now Nothembile Dlulane, founder of the Mtsekane Farming Cooperative in Centane, is determined to cultivate about 30ha of inactive land.
This is all thanks to a R350 000 Massey Ferguson tractor, with a plough and disc, donated by Mnquma municipality.
The cooperative, which employs about 10 people, has thrived despite the persistent drought in the Amathole district.
Started in a mall garden, the cooperative has grown to encompass 13ha, and has been supplying vegetables to local schools, supermarkets and villages.
With the tractor and implements, Dlulane and her team will be able to work the new land, which is roughly the size of 21 soccer fields.
“My interest is farming – I grew up doing it. My father was uneducated so he advised me to pursue agriculture as a career. He is the one who gave me my farming skills.
“I realised that using my skills in agriculture to start a co-op would help develop the community. I want the co-op to end poverty, crime and drug abuse.
“We have identified up to 30 hectares of fallow land where, using the tractor, we would like to grow sunflowers for export. We hear it is a market with a lot of profit,” Dlulane said.
“One of the challenges we have faced is the drought. To counter the challenges it presented, we had to buy water tanks and hire truck drivers to fetch water from streams and rivers. The drought has affected the amount of produce we could produce.”
Sonwabile Mshumpela, a 24-year-old tertiary student and longtime worker on the cooperative, said: “This tractor will make things easier. It will help us by doing work which used to be done by hand, and will hopefully encourage more people to join.”
Mnquma municipal spokesman Loyiso Mpalantshane said the new machinery would help Mtsekane Farming Cooperative to expand its operation and employ more youths from the area.
“As the municipality we believe that this investment will reap great rewards, not only for the members of the cooperative but the broader society of Mnquma. It is value for money as it talks directly towards addressing food security and creating self-dependent communities. This is a special crop of people whose commitment and perseverance is bearing fruit today,” said Mpalantshane.
The co-op was growing maize, potatoes, spinach, green peppers and carrots. “There are eight to 10 people, living in the surrounding villages, who work on the coop. Their ages range from 18 to 65.
“The co-op first came to the munic attention when Dlulane approached our local economic development unit, two years ago, seeking funding for material and supplies which the co-op was missing. Before this tractor they relied on manual labour.
“The local economic development unit then submitted an application to the Department of Trade and Industry on behalf of Mtsekane Farming Cooperative, which is what led to the handing over of this tractor,” said Mpalantshane.
“They are also known for winning an award from the provincial department of agriculture for producing the biggest and brightest carrot in the area.”