Baziya cousins pursue commercialisation of agriculture
Jay Jay Agricultural Primary Co-operative in Mputhi village, Bayiza administrative area, outside Mthatha is one of many businesses pursuing commercialisation of farming in communal areas, with the support of the government.
Started in 2015 by two cousins, Mzimasi Jalisa and Siphe Joyi, the enterprise was supported by the department of rural development & agrarian reform with fencing of 12ha arable land, crop production inputs including fertiliser, seed and chemicals.
The investment by the department between 2019 and 2021 buoyed JJ farming and saw them sell 199 tonnes of maize to Ork Elliot for R380,800.
Jalisa said they had been supported by various government institutions including the Isiqalo Youth Fund located in the Office of the Premier.
It bought them a tractor with implements while the department of social development supplied them with production inputs.
The business produces vegetables, mainly cabbage, which they rotate with spinach, potatoes, green mealies and butternuts from a rich piece of land irrigated with water from the nearby Mbhashe River.
Armed with farm management qualifications from Cedara College of Agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal, Jalisa, who majored in crop production, agribusiness, extension and rural resources management, said they had started farming cabbage informally as two individuals, before they registered their co-operative.
He said they supplied Spar and Boxer stores in Engcobo and Mthatha, meaning they no longer sold to local households and hawkers as they have to service their contractual commitments with the stores. Breaking down their land operations, Jalisa said they produced dry maize on 40ha, green mealies on 4ha, potatoes on 5ha, cabbage on 5ha and spinach on 1ha. They are also involved in beef production as well as buying and selling sheep for slaughtering. The enterprise employs two permanent people and 13 temporary workers. Their wish is to employ all 15 young people permanently.
“We want to contribute to improving rural welfare by reducing food insecurity and improving rural economic development by employing rural youth and unemployed agricultural graduates.
“Working with rural community development organisations, the goal is to promote, inspire, motivate and mentor young people in agriculture business.
“We appreciate the assistance we receive from the government in our endeavours to develop rural communities and participate in economic development through agriculture.
“The assistance has helped us produce more,” he said.
The department is also providing capacity building through mentorship and training by departmental officials, including scientists and external experts.
Working with rural community development organisations, the goal is to promote, inspire, motivate and mentor young people in agriculture business