Good results for EC dairies
Government assistance sees province double milk production
Most of the cheese used at Debonairs Pizza comes from black-owned dairies
THE Government, in partnership with private partners such as Amadlelo Agri, has managed to support six dairies in support of previously disadvantaged people in communal areas with the aim of ensuring they benefit in the mainstream dairy industry.
These dairies are Mantusini in Port St Johns, Ncora in Cofimvaba, Shiloh, Keiskamma in Keiskammahoek, Zanyokwe in Alice and Middledrift.
This province has doubled milk production and is now the top milk producing province in South Africa.
Mantusini Dairy in Port St Johns, which was launched last year, is milking 800 cows and more landowners have indicated their willingness to join with the possibility of expanding the capacity of milking to 1 200 cows.
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has invested R18-million in the dairy project.
A total of 20 people were employed during the development phase and 30 casual workers for bush clearing.
Ncora Irrigation Scheme currently milks 1 000 cows and is set to increase to 2 500 cows when the new second milking parlour has been completed. It is producing 17 000 litres of milk per day with 2 500 litres sold locally and the rest are sent to the Coega Dairy in Port Elizabeth.
A total of 51 people were employed and the second dairy is set to create more jobs and provide food security.
Shiloh Irrigation Scheme milks 800 cows and produces 4.5 million litres of milk per year with a potential of 7.2 million litres when it has 1 200 cows.
Government has provided R38-million in order to get into the 50/50 share-milk business model with Amadlelo Agri. A total of 27 people have been employed. The scheme also has 16ha for vegetable production and 15ha of vineyard.
Keiskamma Irrigation Scheme, which is in its second five-year term share-milk agreement with Amadlelo, has 2 206 milk cows but is milking only 1 891 cows. They produce 32 000 litres of milk per day, of which 3 000 litres is sold locally and the rest is taken to Coega Dairies.
The dairy has a beneficial interest in the Coega Empowerment Trust and is set to benefit from the processing plant in the near future. A total of 34 farmers are benefiting from the project, which is trading under the name of Seven Stars.
The youth has been roped in to form part of the programme, while students doing internship/in-service training are offered an opportunity to do so.
A dairy factory was upgraded to accommodate production of cheese and two youths from Keiskammahoek were sent for training by Coega to specialise in the production of cheese.
The scheme had a herd size of 3 500 cows, with 1 800 cows in milk. There had been a significant increase of 350 cows over the 2016/17 financial year and they are targeting a maximum of 4 000 cows. As a result of this plan, the scheme had negotiated and acquired an additional 30ha land for production of fodder.
In 2008, Middledrift Dairy was started as a joint venture between 65 landowners with the milk sold to Clover Dairies.
It was co-funded by the National Empowerment Fund and Amadlelo Agri with an amount of R9.5-million each. The dairy, which is trading as Gwebindlala Trust, currently has 573 cows producing 10 900 litres per day. DRDAR has provided the dairy with a bulk milk tank.
Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme has 450ha under irrigation and it has been growing maize silage and maize grain with the support of DRDAR’s cropping programme for the surrounding dairies.
Some farmers are growing potatoes and other vegetables while paprika and sweet potatoes are also grown on a small scale. DRDAR extension officers are assisting the farmers.
Fort Hare Dairy was started by our strategic partners – Amadlelo Agri – as a training facility to address the issues of training emerging farmers and bringing work opportunities to young people. It is used to train UFH students, as well as for research.
A total 25% of the milk sold at Shorprite and Checkers stores and most of the cheese used at Debonairs Pizza comes from black-owned dairies under development.
Furthermore, DRDAR has invested R32-million for dairy infrastructure at Wittekleibosch dairy farm in the Tsitsikamma area which is currently under construction to benefit previously disadvantaged communities.
For 2017/18, the department has set aside R22.4-million to revitalise the Ncorha, Qamata, Zanyokwe and Keiskamma irrigation schemes.
Industry and commercial partners, including Chris Hani Development Agency, Amadlelo, Almond Holdings (McCain), Isibaya and ARC are engaged and the expansion will create 550 jobs.