Times Of Swaziland: E4M TURNOVER FOR NTFONJENI CLIMATE SMART FARMERS

E4M TURNOVER FOR NTFONJENI CLIMATE SMART FARMERS
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BY JOSEPH ZULU on 16/03/2019 01:10:00


PIGG’S PEAK – They used to  get meagre harvest from their hectares of land
but now farmers in Ntfonjeni stand a chance of generating over E4 million in
turnover.
Thanks to foreign markets as far as Switzerland and Norway through the National
Agricultural Marketing Board.
Through the Climate Smart- Market-oriented Agriculture(CSMA) project, the
farmers have formed an organisation which owns 23 hectares of land.
According to the Project Manager, Bheki Ginindza, CSMA is assisting the
residents who have grouped together to form an organisation known as the
Mavulandlela Farmers Irrigation Scheme.
benefitting
Ginindza said the scheme had about 27 members who were now benefitting through
NAMBoard, which has also  guaranteed an  overseas market.
He revealed this during the tour of agricultural projects by the Minister of
Agriculture, Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza.
Ginindza said in the past, each farm would generate a maximum of   E15 000 per
year but that this would now be a thing of the past.
He said some of the crops they were growing included sweet potatoes, pumpkin, 
as well as baby vegetables which were usually meant for high end markets.
planted
Ginindza said since the farmers were using smart agriculture, they had also
planted fruit trees such as mangoes, litchis and avocados. He further revealed
that CSMA had another project around Velezizweni under Ngwempisi Inkhundla. Some
of the residents, however, expressed concern that the only challenge they were
having was the  shortage of water and that the project did not have proper
fencing.
They addressed this concern with the  minister, who was touring the area at the
time.
In response, the minister urged that through the local Member of Parliament
(MP), Mthandeni Dube, they could acquire fencing material as well as get a water
project going through the Land Management Board. Dube was also present during
the tour. Mabuza also visited a fruit pack, which will be used to store produce
from the surrounding communities.The fruit pack is situated at Msahweni near
Matsamo.
collaboration
It is under NAMBoard and was funded through the European Union (EU) in
collaboration with the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enteprise
(SWADE).  He further visited a place know as Gesawu where he was shown compost
organic beds at a greenhouse. The minister said this meant that the seedlings
would be closer to the communities.
He further said the vicinity of the fruit house meant that the farmers would not
have to travel far.