MEC CALLS ON SORGHUM FARMERS TO UNITE
Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC, Xolile Nqatha called on Sorghum farmers to work together to reap more rewards from selling their crop.
“This good work makes us encourage all sorghum farmers of Zingxondo, Ibuyambo and other cooperatives to work together because when they work together they will reap big rewards, secure markets for their produce, and financial support to expand production,” said Nqatha during his visit to Zingxondo.
Zingxondo Cooperative received fertilizers, seeds, chemicals from the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, production loan from the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency to produce Sorghum to be sold to local markets.
Emalahleni local municipality Mayor, Councillor Nomveliso Nyukwana said: “I encourage all local farming cooperatives to join the RED Hub jointly funded by the provincial government and the Jobs fund so that they can all receive assistance and support from relevant government departments,” said Councillor Nyukwana.
Zingxondo Cooperative Chairman, Velani Jack said they estimate to yield at least 50 bags of 50 kilograms of sorghum per hectare from 74 hectares planted.
Jack said after harvesting they will send their crop to the market and use their profit to expand production.
“We are optimistic that the buyer will give us a good price for our crop. They just want to see the sample of our crop. It is not easy to access markets for our produce. We are struggling big time,” said Jack. According to the Agriculture Research Council, Emalahleni is one of the sorghum producing areas in the province with 5901 hectares suitable for the crop. DRDAR increased the number of sorghum hectares under production adding 1000 new hectares.
DRDAR is investing R680 000 for mechanisation and fencing to grow sorghum on 100 hectares at Emgcwe in Mnquma with United Breweries, which buys the crop, investing R500 000 for production inputs.
About 456 Ibuyambo Cooperatives own the Emalahleni RED Hub selling the yield to Border Seeds and OVK.