Moyeni Pickles
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Project Title | Moyeni Pickles CC |
Project Partners | Inhlazuka & Inkumane small scale pepper farmers, Project Preparation Trust of KZN (PPT) |
Location | Richmond, KwaZulu Natal |
Funding | Business Trust: R602,304 |
Moyeni: R602,700 | |
Project Challenge | Nhlazuke and Nkumane are two very isolated human settlements about 8km apart in Richmond Municipality, and approximately 25km from Richmond town. There is virtually no transport from these rural areas, and very limited local employment on surrounding farms and timber plantations. The majority of the residents survive on subsistence farming and social grants when they are eligible. As a consequence of these conditions, the area is economically excluded. Due to increased demands Moyeni Farms located in Richmond, has had to find additional fruit to meet orders from customers, and has previously chosen to import fruit grown in Zambia. The use of imported fruit is not ideal, as costs are subject to oil price fluctuations and the quality of the fruit can be compromised in transit if trucks are delayed for any reason. It is far more practical for Moyeni Farms to use locally grown fruit. Moyeni Farm therefore ran successful trials in the Nhlazuke and Nkumane areas over the past four years with 20 farmers and decided to try and find a way to give small scale growers the opportunity to grow fruit for them. This project aims to provide additional households in the area with the means of producing a cash crop that is suitable to the local conditions. This crop has a guaranteed market in Moyeni Farms, who have the technology to process the pickles. Thus, Moyeni offers a great deal of support to the farmers to improve their skills and improve crop production, and hence increased income. Under this project, Moyeni has increased their own production and formed effective working relationships with 80 small scale farmers in Inhlazuka and Nkumane who have produced peppers to help meet the demand without having to import fruit. The market demand for the product suggests that there is sufficient demand for the farmers currently involved to increase their production, and for more farmers to become involved in the production of fruit The small scale farmers have access to a limited credit through the funding provided by PPT that has allowed them to plant and fertilise their crops. Moyeni Farm have transported the crop from the small scale farmers to the factory. PPT have been hired to provide additional outgrower education in financial matters and community mentoring. |
Expected Project Impact |
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