Fransfontein to get N$12m community garden
THE Improving Rangeland and Ecosystem Management Practices of Smallholder Farmers Under Conditions of Climate Change in the Sesfontein, Fransfontein and Warmquelle areas (IREMA) project aims to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers through investing in climate-smart agricultural techniques aimed at improving access to water and increasing both livestock and crop production.
The community of Fransfontein envisions to have a garden for the community to benefit from its fresh produce, and strengthen agrismart agriculture. Currently, the community is using flood irrigation, and the project aims to introduce agri-smart technology such as drip irrigation to reduce water consumption as well as introduce smart agricultural techniques to the local farmers.
On 27 April 2021, the IREMA project team together with the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) held a site meeting handover with the project manager and the appointed site contractor for the Fransfontein community garden.
One Stone Investment was officially announced as the site contractor of the Fransfontein community garden, and Dunamis Consulting Engineers as the project managers. The community garden project is costed to the tune of N$12 million.
The contractor is appointed for a period of nine months, and work is expected to be completed by 22 January 2022. The project will have a one-year defect order that will end in January 2023.
The scope of work of the community garden is about the supply and installation of irrigation systems, and will also include the supply and setting-up of water tanks for storage to pump to the garden. The design is made for 17. 5 hectares.
A nursery measuring 720 square metres will also be set up at the garden to cater for the growing of seedlings for the local famers.
The project site manager outlined the expected responsibilities and activities to be carried out by the contractor, and highlighted the expected deliverables. The contractor was also given the opportunity to engage community members during the meeting, and highlighted the need for cooperation between the community and the contractors.
The site handover meeting also discussed the issue of the budget allocation for the project, and it was explained that the N$12 million is not a once-off large sum that will be given to the contractor, but it will be paid in portions as per the contract signed, based on deliverables and completed work at stages.
On their part, the contractors indicated that they will commence with the work within seven days after the commencement meeting on site, and that they will also engage the community and relevant stakeholders to discuss the progress of the project. Once a week, they will also engage the project manager to provide all technical and suitable updates on the project, such as the setting-up of a mobile office, list of the skills required as well as engage the community of Fransfontein through the settlement office on the suitable recruitment of local community members.
Traditional leaders representing the different traditional authorities in the area welcomed the development, and were excited that the project will finally kick off. They further expressed delight on the impact that the project will bring to their community.
The project will also see the construction of a storage facility for horticultural produce.
The meeting was attended by staff from the EIF, MAWLR, Dunamis Consulting Engineering (the project managers), One Stone Investment (the appointed contactor), representatives from the Fransfontein settlement office under the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, local traditional authorities’ representatives and community members.