Times Of Swaziland: MONTIGNY INVESTMENT PILOTS  WATTLE EXTENSION PROJECT

MONTIGNY INVESTMENT PILOTS  WATTLE EXTENSION PROJECT
================================================================================
  BY KWANELE DHLADHLA  on 27/09/2018 04:24:00


MBABANE – Montigny Investment is piloting a wattle extension project in
several neighbouring communities in a bid to diversify its product lines and
maximise production to meet market demands.
The company has secured a reliable market in Japan for wattle products.
It would seem Montigny is leaving no stone unturned in exploring more
opportunities for job creation. As it were, the company is among the country’s
leading employers with over 10 000 people employed by contractors sub-contracted
by Montigny Investment in its existing forestry business covering some 55 000
hectares and stretching from Nhlangano to Bhunya.
In June this year, the company engaged traditional leaders in northern Hhohho,
where Head of Strategic Initiatives Kelly Cure revealed that the initial project
was being piloted in communities within the vicinity of the Montigny plantation,
including Sigangeni, Lundzi and Mangcongco.
Cure informed stakeholders that teams had been put in place to focus on
operations in each community.
She said wattle extension officers were split into two operational teams, with
the immediate mandate being to increase production. She mentioned that the
project engaged foreign expertise for added insight. At the time of planning,
the target was to cover 30 hectares of land with wattle trees in each community
per month.
Community leaders expressed excitement with the job creation prospects brought
about by this initiative.
“We are excited about the employment opportunities that this project has made
available, especially in the communities where it is being piloted. We are
delighted to hear that increased production would positively impact exports to
far markets; hence earning the country the much needed foreign currency,
consequently improving the economy. We urge the teams to work closely with all
local chiefs in identifying the land that will be used for this project so as to
avert any unforeseen conflicts,” said a community leader.
The Montigny team was led by group Managing Director Neal Rijkenberg, who
expressed satisfaction with the progress, made in the project; and further,
confirmed that export markets had been secured in Japan. He was optimistic that
new markets would open up soon, especially in Europe and Japan.
Meanwhile, Montigny is on course to harvest 100 000 wattle trees for the first
time in 2023, a staggering 1 000 per cent increase from the projected 10 000
trees that will be harvested in 2022.