Taking SA maize to Vietnam
EMERGING black farmers at Matatiele, Eastern Cape are producing maize that is being supplied to Vietnam and other countries.
The commercial farming opportunities are as a result of the efforts of the Department of Rural Development and the Grain Farmer Development Association (GFADA).
The department said it was pleased that the farms were able to produce for commercial markets.
“We are happy that they are now selling their maize to local markets and export markets, and are getting good profits for their hard work. Sending this maize to foreign markets confirms that the Agriculture Economic Transformation Strategy we are implementing is the correct strategy and our method of investing our own money and partnering with commodity groups is the right approach.”
As part of the implementation of the Agriculture Economic Transformation Strategy, the department signed a service-level agreement with the GFADA tasking it to support emerging black grain farmers to produce maize on 3350 hectares for commercial markets in the Joe Gqabi and Alfred Nzo districts of the province.
The department said it invested R10 million for Matatiele farmers’ production inputs and mechanisation, with GFADA covering crop insurance, soil corrections and mentorship, and finding markets for the grain produced by farmers.
The department said about 14 farming co-operatives from Matatiele were participating in this programme, bringing land used for the production of the maize to 2416 hectares for the first production.
The department said although some of the farmers’ fields were hit by floods and hail, most of the crop coming from the fields was good quality and suitable for both local and export markets.
“To us as government this proves the positive results of transformative land reform programmes when farmers are given proper support by government and the market buys crops from all farmers, including emerging farmers, who’re largely black.
“Our department will continue working with GFADA to develop farmers for the next five years, and we are optimistic that this partnership will yield more results, such as contributing in transforming the agriculture sector and to increase farm net income for these farmers.”
The department said broader commodities produced under the Agriculture Economic Transformation Strategy included red meat, wool production, mohair, fruit like citrus and pineapples, macadamia nuts and vegetables.
The department said the fiveyear plan was to produce grain on 100 000 hectares of land in the Amathole, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi, OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts.