Two agricultural projects, quite different in scope and format, are both succeeding in their primary objective – to uplift the people of the local area. The projects are geographically fairly close to one another, in the north-east of Limpopo, but each has approached its goal from a different angle.
The provincial government’s intervention to resuscitate a tea estate in the northern district of Vhembe is paying off, while a mopani-worm project in Giyani, led by a combination of non-government organisations, research teams and university units, has boosted income and skill development for many community members.
Tshivhase Tea Estate
Location
Tshivshase Tea Estate is in the northernmost district of Limpopo, Vhembe, in the vicinity of the Zoutpansberg mountains.
Origin
When British tea company Sapekoe left South Africa in 2004, it disposed of most of its assets. But the Limpopo provincial government
and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) – both shareholders in the undertaking – won an out-of- court settlement to ensure that the land and equipment of the Limpopo estates would not be alienated. This intervention still did not prevent more than 6 000 people from losing their jobs.
Scope and products
On the initiative of the provincial government, old tea bushes have been rehabilitated and new fields planted. A new factory to service two tea estates, Tshivhase and Mukumbani, has been constructed. Current capacity is at 2.4 million kilograms per year (black tea) with a further one million kilograms of rooibos tea (brought in from other provinces) also processed on site. The South African market for tea is about 23 million kilograms per annum so there is plenty of scope for expansion.
The 1 077-hectare estate in 2010 is offering 245 permanent jobs with a further 2 000 jobs available during the season. If a further 300 hectares of tea are planted (as is planned in 2010), 180 more jobs will be created.
The key aspect of the programme is that of adding value. No longer are the estates simply sending out tea leaves and hoping that the prices obtained in the market will be sufficient. The name of the brand is Midi Tea, which is available in three formats.
Funding
The provincial government’s Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural and Rural Development Corporation (ARDC), began supporting the project in September 2006 and had at the end of 2009 invested R164-million. This has been in the form of the rehabilitation of factory facilities, new packaging technologies and marketing support.
Partners
From the outset of the project, expert advice has been sought on how best to cultivate tea. MAN Ferrostaal SA was an early partner, while the Kenya National Company, Kenya Tea Development Agency and Tanzania Tea Blenders all helped with regard to technical
issues and in providing training.
Handover
The Limpopo Department of Agriculture currently holds the title to the land. The intention is to hand over the entire project to a local community trust in 2011.
Greater Giyani Natural Resource Development Programme (GGNRDP)
Location
Giyani is located in the north-eastern part of the Mopani region of Limpopo province, east of the Klein Letaba river and near the boundary of the Kruger National Park.
Origin
The central idea behind the GGNRDP is to use the natural resources of the region for the long-term benefit of the local community. The mopani worm is the larva stage of an emperor moth (Gonimbrasia belina) and is a very popular food source throughout large parts of Africa. The worms comprise 60% protein as well as good quantities of iron, calcium and phosphorus. They are picked from trees and boiled in salted water, after which they are left to dry in the
sun. They can be stored for long periods of time.
The project has created a mopani-processing plant which makes products suitable for the market, some of which are new. Training in collection, hygiene, processing and marketing has also been undertaken.
Scope and products
The main product originating from this work was mopani-based powder. In addition, a new product has been developed, a mopani-based polony. Over and above the mopani initiatives, training has been given in beekeeping and oystermushroom farming. A programme management team has been set up in the Giyani Municipality to oversee the project’s progress.
Potential exists for the development of similar projects for the processing of marula fruit and in the production of essential oils. By using traditional skills and already existing knowledge about the qualities of local products, agri-businesses in many fields could be started. There is also potential in the field of eco-cultural tourism, as a way of generating income for rural communities.
Funding
Funding for the project has been sourced from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s Development Fund (R11.6-million). Infrastructural costs were R12-million, of which the provincial government’s Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism committed R6-million.
Partners
The Southern Education Research Alliance (SERA) is a partnership with the CSIR. SERA’s Sustainable Rural Development initiative (SRD) intends to help local communities make money out of local products. The Centre for Land Related, Regional and Development Law and Policy (CLRDP) at the University of Pretoria has been on hand to assist with the project’s information gathering capacity and the implementation of public-participation projects. Other partners include the Limpopo provincial government, the
Mopani District Municipality and the Giyani Local Municipality.
Handover
The local community took over the running of the project in early 2008, as part of a carefully designed process.
