Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane to hand over grain co-operative project to Bakgatla Community in Marapyane

14 June 2023

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane invites the media to the official handover of the Primary Grain Co-operative Project to the Bakgatla community in Marapyane.

The Grain Project is a community initiative supported by the provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) and it has enabled the citizens to generate income, improve their livelihoods while creating job opportunities on a 145 hectares of land acquired from the Bakgatla Ba Mocha Traditional Council.

The Department has supported the project with infrastructure development, production inputs, mechanization support, training, extension and advisory support, and market linkages.

Currently more than 5km boundary fence has been completed with 74 hectares of maize and 53 hectares of sunflower planted.

To date, the project which forms part of the greening of Mpumalanga due to its agro-ecological zones and climatic conditions, has created at least 40 job opportunities. The climatic conditions in Marapyane is mainly suitable for grain crops such as sunflower, sorghum and maize.

The project has successfully created a value chain for farm output, with local nearby factories namely, Raks Milling, VKB Silos Settlers, NTK, Randagri Pty Ltd and Russell Stone Protein in Seabe village and Bronkhorstspruit, becoming the target markets respectively.

The handover ceremony has been planned as follows:

Date: Monday, 19 June 2023
Time: 12h00
Venue: Marapyane Farmers Training Centre, Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality

Confirmations of attendance can be referred to Ms Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni (Premier’s Spokesperson) on 082 967 2138 or Ms Zanele Shabangu (Spokesperson of DARDLEA) on 072 089 9556.

ENDS…


Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

Provincial Government’s Spokesperson: George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile: 083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za